Skip navigation

 Login or Register | Member Centre

Played a sport lately?

The Canadian Press

Latest comment posted at 11:11 AM EST 08/02/08

Not likely. Canadians like to watch, Statscan reports, as participation plummets ...Read the full article

This conversation is closed

  1. David Gehring from Ottawa, Canada writes: The challenge here in Ottawa is accessibility. It is difficult to find an affordable sport that can be enjoyed on a recreational basis. There are plenty of competitive sports leagues, but they demand too much from someone only looking for fun recreation. And the few recreational leagues that do exist are far too expensive for an activity that normally amounts to 2-3 hours/week for only 4-6 months. It was a lot easier as a child when you could just get a few friends together and have a pickup game of any sport you felt like playing that day.
  2. Emma Hawthorne from Canada writes: When I emailed Toronto city hall to ask that all neighborhood community facilities provide three hours of organized sports per week for women, I was simply told "no" because the city is empahsizing sports for youth and not women. Canadians are simply shut out. At high schools. At community centres. Everywhere. Until access is mandated for full participation, it is not going to happen no matter how ridiculous our taxes are. When will health policy makers start serving the public?
  3. Paul G from Toronto, Canada writes: I posted this on Tuesday regarding the City of Toronto Parks and Rec budget issue:

    I ran a volleyball program at the local Rec Centre in the west end here for two years. I volunteered to do this because it was always canceled.

    By providing continuity to the program it grew until sell out conditions... problem was that trouble with the rec centre staff grew in tandem. It spiraled to the point where I was faced with false accusations and complaints to the union and local police.

    After I was dismissed I sat in a meeting with Parks and Rec management where they could not substantiate the charges from their staff. I contacted the police myself to find the charges did not exist.

    Any wonder Parks and Rec can't run things
    ...
  4. Hugh Draper from Canada writes: I'm surrounded by wimps with excuses.
  5. John Dough from Toronto, Canada writes: I agree that public rec programs are certainly underfunded, however that is no excuse not to go out and get active! There are still plenty of free (or at least very cheap) rec sports programs out there, you just have to look a little harder to find them. It might mean going to the gym on the other side of town, or trying a sport that you've never played before, but it's worth it! The article acknowledges the fact that people still do get out and go for runs/to the gym etc, however I don't see it likely that the number of people who do so outweighs the alarming drop in our lack of participation. I don't have any insightful answers as to why this is happening, but it seems to me that our culture as a whole is getting more stagnant, and- to quote a comment on yesterdays article on obesity- "disdaining any physical activity not relegated to a gym." I don't think it's helping that municipalities (at least Toronto anyways) are raising fees for sporting participation by huge amounts in the coming years, though who knows, maybe it is whats needed to stop the downward trend... Props to you Paul G for getting involved in the community- we should all take notes. Don't let this little setback put you on the bench for good ;) Wheres Hal Johnson and Sue-Ann McLeod when you need them?
  6. Lowen Wrainger from Canada writes: Hey, tell me how I am supposed to engage in 'Sports' while doing a 45-55 hour work week, low-wage, public transit, eat meals at home, grocery shop, have you-know-what 2-3 times a week, pray for money at my ATM altar .... and more. Get real, it takes real money to ramp up to 'serious' excercise. Excuse me for a few minutes, I've got to put another load of laundry in.
  7. Flames Forever from Canada writes: Welcome to the Running craze..many people who have no interest in sports have taken to running as away to get and stay healthy..and it has become a great social event too..
  8. L Harder from Canada writes: Sports is a great way to keep motivated to stay fit. Its also a social outlet (besides work) and a great way to find a significant other. Find something you like doing and get out there. The cost is not that high if you consider the other spending choices that are made. Delay the purchase of a new car for one year and you have enough to fund a few years of sport.
  9. John Dough from Toronto, Canada writes: I don't mean any offence Lauren, but thats the reality that many of us live with. If you can find the time to complain about your busy work week then you should be able to find an hour or two to pick up a basketball, or do a pushup. When you've got three kids to feed I'll be able to empathize with your situation a bit more, but even then I think it's important to make the time to get active, which makes you not only a better role model, but helps tire the little ones out. Also dont take it for granted that your gettin' some 2-3 times a week. In some ways you are still way more active than some ;)
  10. xxx xxxx from Canada writes: I want to take this opportunity to promote the car-free lifestyle. Whether you walk or cycle, if you give up your car you'll get a lot of exercise just getting around.
    And the money you save will easily pay for any organized sporting activity you might have in mind. Fancy joining us?
  11. Richard Hawrelak from Sarnia, Canada writes: When I moved to sarnia in 1960 the YMCA provided free basketball leagues. Anyone could pop in on a Tues or Thurs night and get a game. The Y now provides swimming hours so you can do laps for hours, if you can.

    Also, I joined Dow Chemical because the company sponsored free hockey and softball interplant leagues. Hockey games twice a week in winter and softabll games twice a night in summer. Both very competitive.

    Then, there was skiing. In Sarnia? No, we travelled to Ottawa and the Laurentians. Lots of free cross country trails. Summer triathalons rule the day for the super athletes.

    Can't understand this spectator business. Shovelled 12 inches by 150 ft. driveway this morning. Soaken wet and must have lost 5 lbs of water .. sigh ...
  12. Two Centsworth from Canada writes: When I lived in Toronto (5 years ago) it was like a battle to find organized sports for women over 18. Incredible! I remember making over 60 (really!) phone calls to anything I could think of to find out where I could play soccer. Even sporting goods stores had no idea.

    Why organized sport? Because there is no such thing as drop-in sporting games of any kind for women. Is it cultural or lack of access? Probably both and it becomes a vicious circle.

    Forget about 'exercise' and just be active. Take up a sport! Waaay more interesting than following someone else's directions at a gym!

    Enterprising people out there: start a business to teach the basics to adults who were gym-phobes in their youth but want to play now.

    PS: Torontonians looking for sport, try http://www.tcssc.com/ and no, I don't work for them!
  13. Banofee Pie from Toronto, Canada writes: xxx, I have to admit, by taking public transit, even though it takes double the amount of time to get in (only 18 km away and an HOUR by bus, subway and walking), I do get my exercise in there, at least 20 min every day. It's a great way to mentally prepare myself for the work day and then wind down and relax after a long day. To John Dough, you make it sound so easy to just travel to the other end of the city for a bit of sport. It is not...I know because I used to do just that for Ultimate Frisbee and gave up after three summers because the commute up to Sunnybrook was a pain in the as*. Luckily I have a gym in my building, but not everyone has that luxury and not everyone can afford to shell out $100 per season to schlep across the city (not to mention additional gas $) to run around a sweaty, smelly school gym for an hour (in the winter). When you have a mortgage to pay, those expenses are the first to go. It's easy to say drop this from your budget or drop that, but not so easy to do. Instead I would advocate doing what you can, but ensuring you DO get 20 minutes of exercise at least three times a week, whether it's sport, walking to the store or walking up the stairs ten times, and obviously watching what you eat. Not everyone is cut out for team sports, but there are lots of cheap and free ways to stay in shape. Personally, I can't get over how expensive a lot of programs are - Best Body Boot Camp is $200 per month! Who has that kind of cash lying around - for one month!!!! Crazy!
  14. S B from London, Canada writes: I have two little boys at home, and I work full time. The company i work for offers a corporate softball league, 16 games plus playoffs, it has 19 teams. It costs $25 for the season! The also have a comp and rec volleyball leagues from sept-april at $35. they also have curling and bowling etc. Plus a gym in the building run by goodlife and it only cost $5 per pay. I have no problem partaking in any of these events with a family and full time job. Anyone using "time" as an issue is just covering up their laziness. No wonder this country is getting fatter.
  15. My eyes are open, Are yours? from Canada writes: I think there is confusion here between exercise and sport. I haven't played a 'sport' in years, unless you count bowling and mini-golf. Does cycling count? Ice skating? Roller blading? Swimming? Skiing? Ballroom dancing? Throwing the frisbee for your dog?

    If no-one is playing, why can I never get on a public tennis court?

    What about snowball fights?
  16. X. T. from Waterloo, Canada writes: Hey, who needs sports when we have a public health care?

    I have to walk my dog for 1.5 hours a day, mostly in a forest. And what I find is that only crazy people like myself and some some insane cross country skiers are there (after a snowfall).

    Anyway, I am still happy to pay for the health care that I try not to use.
  17. Banofee Pie from Toronto, Canada writes: My eyes are open...I agree, and I do think it depends on where you live. In the suburbs, there aren't a lot of options. I'm lucky I live in the city. When the weather permits, I'd rather walk up to the grocery store than drive, or run/bike by the lake.

    Why some people think you have to play sports to exercise is beyond me. Not everyone is cut out for that. I got tired of really competitive, aggressive people playing in recreational leagues, so I bowed out, and now enjoy running, biking and yoga a lot more. I think the key is just being active instead of sitting on the couch. Mind you, when there's a blizzard outside your window, sitting on the couch isn't necessarily a bad thing...all in moderation. :)
  18. A B from Somewhere, Canada writes: Up until two years ago I played organized sports regularly. But now I'm 50, my shoulder hurts, my ankle has no ligaments left and my back is a mess.
    So I powerwalk five days a week, 30 minutes each time. I am more fit than I have been since I was a teenager, and I haven't sustained any injuries!
    As I got older I found the winning aspect of organized sport got in the way - so I've dropped the sports and now challenge my body - I wonder how many others have done the same?
  19. The Wight from Canada writes: "I want to take this opportunity to promote the car-free lifestyle."

    So true. I made the conscious decision to go car free about a decade ago for cost reasons. About 4 years ago, I sat down and built my daily commute to work so that there was some built in exercise walking the last 10 blocks or so, or riding the bike the whole way during the summer. I dropped about 30 lbs. in a year with just changing my commute. After that weight loss, I was light enough to run again and dropped another 15 running every second day for about 30-35 minutes.

    I hear Lowen's issue, though. I'm going to have to make some serious life decisions in the near future because it has become obvious that there is not enough time in a day to maintain a decent, healthy romantic relationship AND get enough exercise AND work a full work day AND maintain my family and friend relationships AND put a reasonable attempt in at being a writer. I've juggled them all and they are all suffering, so something has to go.
  20. The Wight from Canada writes: "As I got older I found the winning aspect of organized sport got in the way - so I've dropped the sports and now challenge my body - I wonder how many others have done the same?"

    After years away, I tried playing as a walk-on for one of the many adult soccer leagues in Edmonton. I played four games for four different teams in two divisions and every team I played for as a sub had at least a couple of complete tools who took the competitive aspect into a new stratosphere. I thought I had morphed back into my childhood with hockey and soccer travel teams and the completely lunatic parents that come with that scene. I remembered, then, why I gave up team sports as a whole and never came back.
  21. Popeye Dillon from North Vancouver, Canada writes: I prefer to hike and bicycle. Does a four hike or an all day ride count as a sport?
  22. James Hinnecke from pickering, Canada writes: This article seems to suggest that playing a team sport is the only way to stay in shape. There are many of us who work out regularly, run, golf, swim, etc but have no interest and/or apititude for organized team sports.

    Nor is it expensive to stay in shape as some have implied. My annual membership at the local rec centre costs me $375 annually and for that I access both exercise equipment and the pool.

    Finally, I too don't buy the "I have no time" complaint some people have. I think most people could carve six hours a week for physical activity from other activities such as watching TV, shopping or other sedentary activities.
  23. Rollo Tomasi from Belgium writes: Well spoken, The Wight. I love playing baseball (but I do not care who wins), and look forward to practices next month, but I stay healthy year round with brisk walks, bike rides, and stretch exercises at home.
  24. Chris Michaels from Oakville, Canada writes: I would think that rising ice rental costs in large cities have contributed to this. I would still imagine that organized or shinny hockey would be a choice activity -- but costs have become prohibitive.

    Add to that the expanding working hours and demands for people's time. Wonder how gym membership/ attendance is working (or not) to offset this.

    Bottom line is that we need to get more active and less fat -- otherwise it's going to put a crushing strain on our health system.
  25. Stephen McPherson from Bradford, Canada writes: Team sports are vastly over rated. A good pair of walking shoes aren't.
  26. Ben Dover from Ottawa, Canada writes: I'd rather watch NHL, NFL, NASCAR, Speed Vision, History Channel and movies with dinner and wine, beer, rhum or calvados and burn it down with a cigar thanks...you're starting to bore me!
  27. S G from Toronto, Canada writes: First few comments - classic blame the state mentality. There are an infinite number of sports/activities that can be participated in without needing the government to hold your hand the entire time. Go to the store and buy a soccerball or football or basketball or glove/baseball or running shoes or badminton racket......and get off the couch and do it!
  28. RD Lone from Vancouver, Canada writes: This study misses the trend of people moving to gyms and exercise machines.

    Far more people "hit the gym" than, "go play a sport" as it fits in better with a busy life. Combined with this is urbanization and bigger-house-ization over the past couple decades. Most condo buildings have gym facilities, and the perpetual growth in free standing houses mean that there are more 'home gyms.'
  29. Joe Public from Canada writes: James Hinnecke, your point is well taken, there are quite a few people who substitute solitary or group forms of exercise for competitive sport. But in my personal experience (I'm in my late 20s) there are lots of people I know and play sports with who don't "exercise" beyond that, because they find it boring...they prefer the competition. That, and they don't have the time.

    I think the article is a bit misleading because it implies that an aging population is responsible for a lack of physical activity, when in reality to your point older people substitute "exercise" for "sport". I think the real problem is that there are lots of people my age or younger that do neither of these things.
  30. Jason Mote from Toronto, writes: We complain about the $400 or $500 a year it costs to join a rec league or a health club but think nothing of spending $1200 a year on cable TV.
  31. P McLean from Canada writes: Maybe it is different in Toronto, but in the places I have lived, I have found the league's organizers laziness to be a limiting factor. Every time I would see a league, they only ever talk about "enter your team", "the team fee is ...." A phone call to them gets you the reply "well we really want to have teams, but we can take your name and if someone needs players we'll call you". Of course that call never comes. So unless you have a group of people you know who play, you can kiss that option goodbye. Hockey is a little different(although not much unless you are talking pickup which is what I prefer to play anyway), but for basketball, volleyball, etc. these organizers take the path of least resistance. Plus the local cities, like someone has said, focus on the youth. The main swimming pool here is an Olympic-size Pool. At 6 am mondays and Fridays(for 90 mins), and some sunday nights in the winter it is set up for full lane 50-meter swimming. The rest of the time there are 2-4 25 meter lanes(so about 15% of the pool) set for swimming, and the rest of the pool is just kids jumping and splashing on each other and throwing stuff around. And they wonder why people don't want to go swim for exercise there? Triathlon has been a good sport that doesn't have these barriers, as well as badminton if you can find it(played at a high level it is a great workout). But more needs to be done on many fronts if this is the issue the article makes it out to be(which I believe it is.)
  32. D K from Canada writes: Love is a contact sport.
  33. D K from Canada writes: " Jason Mote from Toronto, writes: We complain about the $400 or $500 a year it costs to join a rec league or a health club but think nothing of spending $1200 a year on cable TV."

    I've got the health club membership but no cable. It's the better choice.
  34. B D from Canada writes: I can only speak with knowledge about Toronto, but there are tons of inexpensive sports leagues for adults. I play several nights per week (ultimate frisbee - coed) with Toronto Sport and Social Club, Not So Pro and Toronto Ultimate Club. There is a ton of opportunity for fun, cheap exercise if you know where to look, with many types of sports. On top pf great exercise, it's great for the social connections as well.
  35. Sylvester McMonkey McBean from Canada writes: Well do try to remember that you're getting much more value from your health club membership than from your cable TV. The club is subsidized by the hordes of people who sign up driven by guilt inspired by christmas gluttony and then show up twice. Then there's another influx of cash as the first warm days of spring hit and candians alarmed at the thought that their pasty doughy wintertime selves will soon be in shorts and t-shirts. These people too are soon gone, leaving nothing besides a pre-paid annual membership behind them.
  36. Kevin Desmoulin from TO, Canada writes: I think any kind of sport whether single or team is good, Just getting out and doing a walk in the evening is good, We need to moderated all activities and I find getting exercise is put to the back more and more.
    Soccer is fun, cycling, Swimming too is very good, I found today with all the snow, quite good, Jumping over or on the banks like a little kid remember, quite energetic. leads to a healthy appetite, good sleep.
    you know every little bit helps.
  37. Emma Hawthorne from Canada writes: Ideally every community centre should be a meeting place for citizens to organize regular basketball, jogging, swim tag teams and spinning classes, all courtesy of property taxes, at regular times like 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., or, even better, every two hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. And park space needs to be utilized for adults as well as youths. Finally, school boards should mandate that every student, barring illness, be in a house league team sport for every term. Not only would everyone be healthier and thinner, activity alone would vastly incease their happiness quotient, and social connecitons would be formed with neighbours. These suggestions require no addiitonal buildings and could be staffed by trained rotating volunteers. Community centres are already overstaffed with people who could also carry out some of these duties, or at least organize and train volunteers. It's time we demanded that communities facilitate population-wide fitness, especially as we are already paying for it through property taxes. Even renters pay property taxes through their rental payments..
  38. Dread Nought from Canada writes: Is it not also the case that Nova Scotians boast the most satsifying sex lives in Canada? Sounds like they are good sports in and out of bed!
  39. J S from Canada writes: I was forced to quit sports when I got my new job in 2004. Although the company I work for has a 'work/life balance' program, the 60 hour work week plus the work I need to take home to stay on top of things is too much. I had a choice - my job or sports. I think many Canadians are in the same boat. Since the early '90s I've found that workaholism has changed from a problem to a job requirement. It's why I laugh every time I write an article or proof-read our Work/Life Balance newsletter...
  40. J S from Toronto, Canada writes: B D from Canada - thanks for the tips on the sports clubs. Hopefully I can find something I can fit into my schedule.
  41. Ugly Bags of Mostly Water - we are from Canada writes: Let's face it Canadians just aren't team players anymore and

    judging from the number of people on these message boards who want us to pull out of Afghanistan and out of NATO

    this applies not just to sports
  42. P McLean from Canada writes: J S, I'm not sure why the cynicism over the Work/Life Balance program of your company. Doesn't "Work/Life Balance" mean "balance your life so you can work more"?
  43. Wobbly Bits from Canada writes: So is the average 30 year old canadian still only as fit as the average 60 year old swede or are we making progress in that area?
  44. L Harder from Canada writes: Many of those that cycle or walk, are deluding themselves about the amount they are doing. I've seen those on the cycle slowly turning the pedals with 0 resistance while reading a book. There is very little benefit working at this rate.

    Add a bit of competitive spice (even if it is only with yourself), then there is a good reason to push a little harder and develop increased capacity to work. I would challenge those who prefer solitary sports to join a club. Most training will still be on your own but the 1 or 2 times with your club mates will invigorate/inspire you, improve technique, provide variety and provide a heck of a lot of information to make you exerciser smarter.

Comments are closed

Thanks for your interest in commenting on this article, however we are no longer accepting submissions. If you would like, you may send a letter to the editor.

Report an abusive comment to our editorial staff

close

Alert us about this comment

Please let us know if this reader’s comment breaks the editor's rules and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.

Do not use this to complain about comments that don’t break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.

Back to top