Preferencias deportivas en los niños, niñas y adolescentes del municipio de Tesalia Huila

Abstract

Introduction: Occupying free time to avoid mental and physical health problems. Sports clubs in Colombia offer an option for this purpose. Sports training schools are key to the development of future athletes and the promotion of social values. General objective: To identify the sports preferences of children and adolescents in the municipality of Tesalia Huila, with the purpose of strengthening existing training schools or implementing new disciplines promoting their comprehensive development and the promotion of healthy habits. Methods: This study is quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional, with a population of 1,177 children and adolescents from the municipality of Tesalia, obtaining a sample of 290. A survey was applied on the Google Forms digital platform and data analysis was developed in the Microsoft Excel program through data tabulation. Results: 30.51% (90) practice volleyball, being the most practiced sport. Among the preferences, soccer (34.24%) and volleyball (28.47%) stand out. Only 51.53% have access to sports facilities, which is more common among men (67.31%) than women (33.81%). The main barriers to practicing sports include lack of time (37.96%) and absence of coaches (32.54%), with a more significant impact on women in almost all aspects. Conclusions: It is essential to strengthen sports training schools and create new options such as boxing to provide more activities for young people. The construction of more sports venues is also crucial to promote well-being and social integration.