Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College

1. Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College A Capping Project that: Combines both sports interviewing and reporting backed by quantitative and qualitative research findings 2. Is a project aimed to help improve the “business” side of intramural sports, that is, what can be learned from this study that will help the intramural department increase participation and improve the overall experience of female students 3. Promotes sports and Marist Athletics across the student body

2. Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College Reasons Behind the Project It has been reported that the level of women’s participation in intramural sports is decreasing, yet the the performance of American world class women athletes has never been more impressive as evidenced by the last Summer Olympics, and a recent NCAA news release reports that participation for both male and female student-athletes are at an all-time high. It was the right time to see for myself what the state of affairs are at Marist College with regard to the level of participation by women in intramurals and club sports and how women keep physically fit.

3. Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College Methodology - Created a questionnaire to collect data and information • - Collected a total of of 100 in-person and online responses to the questionnaire - Videotaped several interviews to gain experience in sports interviewing and reporting - Created a spreadsheet to gather and analyze the data - Updated my blog regularly which included some videotaped interviews - Created a Table of demographic data of the respondents to the questionnaire - Prepared a final report/presentation for use for by Club and Intramurals at Marist - Created and had published a Marist Athletics Trivia Crossword Puzzle in The Circle to promote Marist Athletics. Winners won Marist Athletic hooded sweatshirts.

4. Background Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College I was struck by some statistics that I came across: • Men participate at a 70% level in intramurals while only 30% of women are involved • At some colleges the difference is as high as 90% for men versus 10% for women - Marist College reports 4,536 undergraduates – 58% of which are female = 2,630 - 11 club teams and 1,600 students participating in intramurals (www.Marist.edu/about) - “About 65% of the student population participates with our numbers increasing each of the last three years.” (www.Marist.edu/athletics website) (# would be 2,948 undergrads) Assumption That the level of involvement among women at Marist College is higher than what was reported in other colleges

5. Limitations and Extrapolation Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College There is no way to get an accurate number on the actual number of female participants or the percentage of female undergraduates that participate in intramurals and club sports at Marist College* From my survey sample, I can extrapolate the percentage of women who are participating in intramurals and club sports at Marist *Kristy Nix, Coordinator of Club Sports & Intramurals, says, “As far as the number of women who participate, we do not have a way to calculate the number. There is a new system in place now that can keep track of the number of people who participate.” (Email exchange on Sept. 17, 2012)

6. Explanation of Groups Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College Groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 refers to the group that each participant is placed in: Group 1 - participated in high school sports only Group 2 - participates in sports at Marist but did not participate in high school sports Group 3 - participated in high school sports AND in sports at Marist Group 4 - only uses the McCann Center for wellness and to stay physically fit Group 5 - no sports and does not workout Group 6 - varsity athletes Table 1 – Demographic Data (click on Table 1 in the Appendix)

7. Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College Percentage Group 1 – 46 Group 2 – 9 Group 3 – 21* Group 4 – 14 Group 5 – 1 Group 6 – 9 Percentage of Respondents by Group Percentage *Group 3 has 30 but 9 have to be backed out since they are varsity athletes

8. Quantitative Results Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College 30% of woman participate in intramurals or club sports at Marist College 39% are involved in sports overall, including varsity teams 21% participated in high school and do so in college - 9% joined a team or decided to play sports since entering Marist College By extrapolating the data, approximately 789 undergraduate females play intramurals and/or club sports at Marist* 46% of women who were involved in sports in high school do not participate in college An astonishing 99% of women responded that they workout and/or use the McCann Center facilities *Based on this number, it would mean that 2,159 men would have to participate in intramurals and/or club sports if 65% of the student population participates

9. Reasons Why Women are Involved in Intramurals or Club Sports* Qualitative Results Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College 23 19 14 15 1 *Respondents were able to give more than one reason

10. Reasons Why Women do not Participate in Sports at Marist College* 5 Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College 1 3 1 5 5 6 6 3 6 6 33 3 5 1 33 3 *Respondents were able to give more than one answer. Not everyone gave a reason why. 1

11. Qualitative Results Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College For the question, “What  is  missing  for  you…..,” there were some very interesting comments: - “There needs to be better advertising, promotion and awareness and make it easier to sign up.” - “It needs to be better organized/more detailed information on sports offered.” - “There needs to be better facilities/more room/more machines.” - “It is too competitive.” - “My friends don’t play so neither do I.” - “ Time.” - “I feel if I did not play as a freshman it is now too late.”

12. # of Comments What is missing for you that you don’t participate?* 12 Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College 17 9 3 4 2 1 1 1 *Respondents were able to give more than one answer. Not everyone gave a reason why.

13. Asked what sports are missing that if there you might think about playing? Screen Shot from Intramurals Site Answers: (and number of times) Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College • Club volleyball (3) • Wrestling • Shuffleboard • Kickboxing (2) • Club swim team (3) • Gymnastics • Intramural track • Tumbling • Golf • Intramural tennis • Martial Arts • Field hockey • Club lacrosse • Club soccer • Intramural lacrosse (2) • Softball • Intramural swimming The screen shot is there to show that golf, lacrosse, running, and tennis exist – so the question is, “How effective is the communication and information and how is that information and the sport being made available to female students?”

14. Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College Summary - Based on my research findings, the level of participation by women in intramurals and club sports at Marist College is exactly the same percentage as the number reported in the article I read – 30%. My assumption was incorrect since I thought the number would be higher. • The #1 reason why females participate is Social Reasons followed by to • StayPhysically Fit - The #1 reason women do not participate at Marist College is due to lack of Time

15. Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College Summary • An overwhelming majority of women at Marist workout to stay healthy and physically fit, but there is a concern about the facilities and lack of machines to use - What is missing? Intramurals clearly needs better advertising and awareness in terms of when/where the sports are played, how to sign up, where to sign up, etc. My early research highlighted the need for a better, more comprehensive intramurals website, hosted by Marist, that is easy to find and use, i.e., register, schedule of games, locations, etc.

16. Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College A Few Wise and Practical Statements / Takeaways “I play intramural sports at Marist because it is fun, allows you to meet new people, and if taken seriously, allows you to stay fit.” “There should be an all-girls soccer intramurals league. Many girls are intimidated playing against boys.” “For a female, if you want to play intramurals, it is there, but you have to find it yourself. It is not going to present itself to you.”

17. Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College Recommendation Report