Attrition in Competitive Swimming in Kenya: Assessment of Selected Psycho-social, Demographic and Structural Attributes

Abstract

Reasons cited by athletes, for attrition before reaching their full potential are varied based on the sports among other factors. This study sought to assess the perception of selected psychological, social and structural attributes on attrition in competitive swimming in Kenya. The target population included swimmers in the Kenya Swimming Federation database as of 2021 and swimmers participating in the Kenya University Sports Association Games. Forty-four coaches and 542 (394 active swimmers and 148 former swimmers) swimmers were sampled. Three sets of questionnaires were administered, one to coaches, another to active swimmers and another to former swimmers. Social attributes were ranked highest by all respondents, followed by structural attributes and then psychological attributes. The test of MANOVA found that there was a statistically significant difference between the three groups, active swimmers, former swimmers, and coaches on combined dependent variables (psychological, structural, social and gender factors) Pillai’s Ʌ = .613, F (6, 1164)= 85.833, p<0.001, partial η2 = 0.307, observed power = 1.00. MANOVA was then followed by ANOVA for each dependent variable (psychological, structural, social and gender) and tested at an alpha level of 0.05. The results showed that there was a significant difference in all three groups (active swimmers, former swimmers, and coaches) on their views on attributes leading to attrition among competitive swimmers in Kenya. A significant mean difference was established in all three groups on psychological, structural, and social attributes affecting swimming attrition. However, coaches and former swimmers had no significant mean difference on structural attributes leading to swimming attrition in Kenya. Mann-Whitney U test was used to establish if there was any significant difference for the three attributes across each of the three groups of respondents at P≤ 0.05. Psychological attributes were found to affect attrition among active swimmers most, followed by former swimmers and then coaches. The influence of psychological attributes was significantly different between coaches and former swimmers and between coaches and active swimmers. Social attributes influenced attrition among active swimmers most followed by former swimmers and viewed as least influenced by coaches. There was a significant difference between active and former swimmers, between coaches and active swimmers and also between former swimmers and coaches. Structural attributes influenced active swimmers the most, followed by views of the coaches and least among former swimmers. There was a significant difference between active and former swimmers. However, the difference in views of former swimmers and coaches and views of active swimmers and coaches’ structural attributes was not statistically significant. Across gender, the Mann-Whitney U test showed gender had no significant influence on any of the three (psychological, social and structural) attributes. Comparing each of the four age groups among the swimmers, Mann Whitney U test results established there to be a significant difference only between the ≥ 16-year age group and the others. The study recommended the following: Kenya Swimming Federation and its affiliate county federations should look for sponsors to fund swimming competitions as this will make it more affordable and attract more competitors. There is a need to improve the incentive and reward system, to have more tangible and functional awards, especially among the swimmers aged 16 years and above as a way of motivating them to stay on in the sport. The federation in conjunction with the swimming coaches’ body should invite swimming pool owners to be hosting swimming training camps within estates like other sports have, so as to increase the number of swimmers.