New AusPlay figures show football leads sport participation rates in Australia

Football continues to be Australia’s largest club-based participation sport according to the new update from the Australian Sports Commission’s official AusPlay survey.

The newly released update from the largest survey of its type ever undertaken in Australia, shows that 1,152,144 men, women, boys and girls participated in football during the period from July 2016 to June 2017,

Golf enjoyed the second highest participation with 751,766 participants, with other top 10 sports being AFL (673,986 participants), netball (665,738 participants), tennis (628,708 participants), basketball (594,919 participants), cricket (562,107 participants), swimming (406,035 participants), athletics - track and field (298,999 participants) and touch football (278,168 participants).

Significantly neither rugby league and rugby union figured on the list the top 10 club-based sports in terms of participation.

With Australia having this week qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia on the back of recent successes for the Matildas, Football Federation Australia (FFA) now anticipates further participation growth in the current year, as happened in 2014 when the Socceroos qualified for the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

FFA Head of Community, Women's and Football Development Emma Highwood believes the game will experience another huge 10% boom among children – 7% more growth than a “normal” year without a World Cup on the calendar.

Highwood told the news.com.au “the Socceroos and Matildas are inspiring boys and girls to play the game.

“There’s no gender split any more - both boys and girls are looking up to fantastic footballers to get them motivated.”

FFA Chief Executive David Gallop commented “football has never been bigger or busier. It’s is the people’s game. Wherever you are around this country, whatever your age, background or ability, there is a place for you in football.”

Mindful of the pressure growing participation puts on facilities, Gallop added “we will continue to work with our member federations and governments at every level around the country so that the necessary infrastructure is available.

“For parents of young children looking for a safe, accessible and inclusive sport, football is the answer – and these figures show just how many people are making that choice.”

AusPlay Results