How sports clubs include children and adolescents with disabilities in their activities. A systematic search of peer-reviewed articles

Abstract

Young people with disabilities participate in sports to a lesser extent than other adolescents. That physical activity has positive effects on young people are understood. Sports clubs are identified as potential environments for physical activity. The reasons why young people with disabilities participate to a lower extent in organized sport is complex and barriers can be deriving from many different levels. However, barriers have been studied more than what can facilitate participation in organized sport. Therefor the aim of this study is to increase the understanding of how sports clubs include children and adolescents with disabilities in their activities. The results of this systematic search are presented using the three research questions: What are the characteristics of the sports clubs that include young people with disabilities?; How are the young people with disabilities included in sports clubs’ activities?; and finally Why are young people with disabilities included in the sports activities?. A vision must be to go from adapting physical activity for disabled persons to adapting physical activity for all people, because the diversity of people’s reasons for doing sports, their differing backgrounds and their uniqueness all demand it. This will result in more people doing sports for longer in life.