Exercise walking, which experienced 7.6% growth in 2008, remains the No. 1 participant activity surveyed by the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA), a position it has held since 1990. Data contained in NSGAs annual “Sports Participation Series I and II” reports, which will be available in May, shows 96.6 million Americans walked for exercise in 2008.
Swimming, with a 6.1% increase, moved ahead of exercising with equipment for the No. 2 spot. With its increase, swimming attracted 63.5 million participants. Exercising with equipment attracted 63.0 million participants, statistically in a dead heat with swimming, held the No. 3 position.
Bowling and camping (vacation/overnight) were also in a statistical dead heat, with bowling claiming 49.5 million participants for the No. 4 spot. Camping (vacation/overnight) claimed the No. 5 spot with 49.4 million participants.
New to the Top 10 was hiking, with 38.0 million participants. This pulled it to the No. 9 position. Falling from the Top 10 was power boating. Its almost 13% decline in participation to 27.8 million participants sent it to the 15th spot.
Rounding out the Top 10 were bicycle riding, No. 6 with 44.7 million participants; fishing, No. 7 with 42.2 million participants; workout at club, No. 8 with 39.3 million participants; and weight lifting, No. 10 with 37.5 million participants.
Among traditional team sports, basketball was the leader, attracting 29.7 million participants. Baseball followed, with 15.2 million participants; softball, with 12.8 million participants; Volleyball, with 12.2 million participants; and tackle football, with 10.5 million participants. Only tackle football showed a drop in participation, down 3.7%.
“It was good to see growth in the team sports arena. Other than tackle football, the team sports showed growth ranging from one to nine percent,” NSGA Vice President of Information & Research Thomas B. Doyle said. “Volleyball participation, which had been declining for a number of years, seems to have stabilized.”
Of the 41 sports in the 2008 survey, 26 increased in participation. Fifteen showed declines. Activities newly surveyed for the 2008 report include cheerleading and canoeing.
For the survey, a participant is someone age seven or older who takes part in a sport or activity more than once in a calendar year. “Sports Participation in 2008 Series I and II” cover 41 sports, recreation and fitness activities.
2008
Participation – Ranked by Total Participation
Sport Total Change
Exercise
Walking 96.6 7.6%
Swimming
63.5 6.1%
Exercising
with Equipment 63.0 9.2%
Bowling
49.5 5.1%
Camping
(vacation/overnite) 49.4 3.8%
Bicycle
Riding 44.7 11.4%
Fishing
42.2 2.7%
Workout
at Club 39.3 6.8%
Weight
Lifting 37.5 6.6%
Aerobic
Exercising 36.2 4.1%
Running/Jogging
35.9 18.2%
Basketball
29.7 5.7%
Boating,
Motor/Power 27.8 -12.7%
Target
Shooting 20.3 -3.2%
Yoga 16.0
17.1%
Baseball
15.2 8.7%
Backpack/Wilderness
Camp 13.0 -0.1%
Softball
12.8 3.6%
Tennis
12.6 2.9%
Volleyball
12.2 1.0%
Football
(tackle) 10.5 -3.7%
Canoeing
10.3 na
Mountain
Biking (off road) 10.2 9.6%
Scooter
Riding 10.1 -4.6%
Hiking
38.0 10.5%
Skateboarding
9.8 -3.6%
In-Line
Roller Skating 9.3 -13.1%
Paintball
Games 6.7 -9.9%
Skiing
(alpine) 6.5 1.9%
Billiards/Pool
31.7 7.4%
Hunting
w/Bow & Arrow 6.2 7.5%
Snowboarding
5.9 15.6%
Water
Skiing 5.6 6.3%
Golf 25.6
2.6%
Target
Shooting – Airgun 5.0 -24.8%
Muzzleloading
3.4 -6.1%
Hunting
with Firearms 18.8 -3.6%
Cheerleading
2.9 na
Hockey
(ice) 1.9 -7.7%
Soccer
15.5 12.5%
Skiing
(cross country) 1.6 -5.2%
Source:
NSGA
*Percent
Change is from 2007
Seven (7)
years of age and older
Participated
more than once (in millions)
