AWARENESS OF BENEFITS OF SPORTS IN THE CHOICE OF YOUTH CAREER AMONG ATHLETES OF PRINCE ABUBAKAR AUDU UNIVERSITY, ANYIGBA, KOGI STATE

Abstract

This study assessed awareness of benefits of Sports in the choice of youth career among athletes of Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, Kogi State. The population for the study comprised all 382 registered athletes of Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba. 200 respondents representing 52.4% of the total population were selected for the study using stratified random sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was a self-structured questionnaire validated and tested for reliability using Spearman Brown rank correlation, and coefficient result of 0.86 was obtained. Inferential statistic of Person Product Moment Correlation was used to analyze the two null hypotheses set for the study at 0.05 alpha level of significance. The results revealed that; i. Awareness of health benefits of sports will significantly influence the choice of youth’s career with cal. r-val. of .254 and crit. r-val. of .087 at 0.05 level of sig. ii. Awareness of economic benefits of sports did not significantly influence the choice of youth’s career with cal. r-val. of .047 and crit. r-val. of .087 at 0.05 level of sig. It is therefore, concluded that, participation in sports will significantly influence major health benefits such as obesity, heart diseases, diabetes, decreased overall mortality, decreased cancer risk, increase longevity and mental health and that, Youths in Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba participated in sports for the purpose of interest, self-motivation and to keep fit and not for financial gain. Based on the findings, recommendations were made that the management of Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba should enforce a day set aside for sports participation to enhance students’ health benefits and Athletes should be motivated financially to improve on their commitment and enhance their interest and self-motivation in sports.