CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
Because there is a variance in the function of sports participation and the realization of its advantages, the role of sport has always been acknowledged. The general public’s perception of sport’s function has been good, and it is seen as a friendly commitment to people in daily life. Sport has the ability to fulfill three crucial goals, according to Cote and Fraser: physical health, psychosocial development, and mastering motor skills. Hoden Hoden Hoden Hoden Hoden Ho (2010). Furthermore, Kilpatick et al. Ryska, Koivula stated that sports engagement has been found to increase physical health, psychological well-being, stress reactivity, and mental well-being in both sexes.
Students’ intellectual and social qualities have also benefited from involvement in sports. “Being athletes, most students have exhibited strong academic results in their studies, especially at the university level. Hoden (2010) said, supporting this viewpoint. Participating in university athletics has been shown to be advantageous not only to the players’ physical and mental growth, but also to the development of their social ties. This viewpoint is backed up by Hoden (2010), who claims that “education’s deteriorating position may be addressed via sport and games.” In view of the above, it is reasonable to assume that students’ academic success and involvement in athletic activities are linked.
“Participation in sports activities is more useful in the development of physical and mental health, the development of social qualities, and the development of abilities,” according to cal (2006). Furthermore, the relief of mental tension, a sense of well-being, the acquisition of good health, entertainment, and weight control are some of the other common benefits of the basic problems and challenges for girls’ participation in sports activities in Nigeria. Nigeria is one of the countries with a high population growth rate. Adesoye,(2013). Nigeria is now the world’s sixth most populated nation, with a population of 188 million people, 51.35 percent of whom are males and 48.65 percent of whom are women. (Office of Statistics of Nigeria, Survey of Active Population of Nigeria 2012-13, Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms, Population forecasts for the years 2007-2030). Despite the fact that females make up over half of the population, our priorities have shifted, and instead of paying attention to them, we are now focusing on them. We neglect females and position them at the bottom of our priority list by promoting them. Many occupations, including possibilities to engage in sports, have historically overlooked women. In these conditions, it is critical to give females with equal possibilities in all occupations, including involvement in sports Adesoye (2013).
A number of studies have looked at many hurdles to females participating in sports (personal, environmental, biological, psychological, environmental hereditary social, access to peer groups, age, perceived barriers), such as obesity, a lack of time motivation, money, and other resources. Lack of time, lack of understanding, family difficulties, lack of money, and peers are the top recreational obstacles for females’ engagement in sport, according to Hoden (2010), Kara and Demirci (2010), Scott and Mowen (2010), Stanis et al. (2010).
Women’s sports draw less money than men’s sports on most levels. Women make up 41% of all athletes supported by different programs. Because they don’t have a huge fan base, girls’ teams in community sports tend to receive fewer sponsors from local companies. Shores et al., according to Attarzade and Sohrabi, Mozafari et al., Mozafari et al., Mozafari et al., Mozafari et al., Mozafar He also stated that fear of aggressiveness, a lack of facilities, gender, race, and hefty admission costs are some of the other variables that influence people’s engagement in sports. Adesoye,(2013).
Sport culture is a problem in and of itself. Sports activities have always been seen as largely male pursuits in third-world nations, particularly in our eastern culture. Girls, on the other hand, have a slew of issues when it comes to participating in sports. According to Deem, Jackson, and Henderson, being addicted has always made it harder for women to afford leisure activities. Girls, on average, lack confidence and have a lower opinion of their own performance or abilities than guys. Competition is also connected to self-assurance. K. cal, cal, cal, cal, cal, cal (2006).
Parents, coaches, and other adults have varied effects on females and boys. Teenage females value self-comparison and adult remarks more than adolescent boys, who depend on competition outcomes to make personal judgments about physical aptitude. The goal of this research is to look at female participation in sports in secondary schools.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Different barriers to girls’ engagement in sports exist, including personal, environmental, biological, psychological, social, environmental, peer group access, age, perceived familial issues, obesity, a lack of time, motivation, money, and other resources. cal (2006). All of these variables have a significant impact on female involvement in sports and sport promotion. The researcher picked the subject “female involvement in athletic activities in secondary schools in Delta state ” after considering the historical and current state of the sport.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
the general objective of the study is to examine female involvement in sporting activities in secondary schools. The specific objective are as follows:
i.         To examine the influence of religion on secondary schools female students involvement in sport in Delta State.
ii.       To evaluate the impact of cultural difference on sports involvement among female  students in secondary schools.
iii.     To investigate the influence of family financial status on sports involvement among female  students in secondary schools.
