A survey of the Challenges Raising from COVID-۱۹ in Sport for all with a focus on Children's Sports and Physical Activities

Background: The COVID-۱۹ pandemic has significantly impacted people's sports and physical activities. Many studies have examined these effects from different points of view. This study investigates the challenges of COVID-۱۹ in sport for all, emphasizing Children's Sport and Physical Activity. Methods: This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of data collection, and is conducted by the use of the field method. The population included all experts in children's sports, kindergarten teachers, primary school teachers, and managers of the clubs active in children's sports in Gorgan (N = ۷۵۰). The sample was determined based on the statistical population and Morgan table (n = ۲۵۷). A ۲۲-item researcher-made questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale was used to collect the data and assess the effects of COVID-۱۹ on children's sport in three dimensions and ten components. Given the normal distribution of data, the correlated t-test was used to measure the effects. And Friedman's test was used to prioritize the challenges of COVID-۱۹ in sport for all, emphasizing children's sports. Results: The results showed that the challenges of COVID-۱۹ in sport for all with an emphasis on children's sports and physical activities are jeopardizing the physical health of children, increasing the issues related to holding competitions and festivals, increasing unemployment of sports coaches, increasing governmental restrictions for the operation of sports facilities, reducing investment in children's sports, endangering the physical health of individuals, loss of human resources, the financial crisis of sports centers, reducing the income of health-related sports centers and increasing psychological problems (Social Phobia, anxiety and fear of Sports). Conclusions: The results revealed that the challenges raised by COVID-۱۹ in children's sports and physical activity can be managed by giving priority to low-risk sports in open spaces, games, and competitions without spectators, providing unemployment insurance services to children's sports activists, using technology in sports classes, providing support packages and banking facilities for sports center owners and observing health practices.

Keywords:

COVID-۱۹ , sport for all , Physical Activity , Children