Elite stars join #StopTheDrop drive urging teens to stay active in sport
Allianz ambassador and Irish Olympic Silver medallist, Sonia O’Sullivan, promoting the Allianz #StopTheDrop campaign shedding critical light on the decline in sports participation among Irish children, particularly during the pivotal transition from primary to secondary school. Photo: Dan Sheridan / Inpho
Athletics legend Sonia O’Sullivan is leading a team of elite athletes encouraging young people to boost their health by staying actively involved in sport.
Sonia is joined by some of the biggest Irish names from the Paris 2024 Olympics, including rugby sevens player Jordan Conroy, runner Rhasidat Adeleke, taekwondo star Jack Woolley and others to promote #StopTheDrop, the Allianz campaign targeting the 1 in 5 children who currently stop participating in sport at the transition from primary to secondary school.
As the largest insurer of schools in Ireland, insuring over 500,000 children, Allianz is driving the #StopTheDrop campaign in a bid to counteract that marked drop in participation.
Irish Olympic medalist Sonia O’Sullivan said: “As an athlete, I am honoured and excited to be supporting the Allianz #StopTheDrop campaign. As a sportsperson myself, but most importantly as a parent, I know first-hand the positive impact sport has on young people and the importance of that.
“Keeping children engaged with sport, at whatever level works for them, can aid them in developing so many important life skills, enabling them to go on to great things into their teenage and adult lives. The Allianz #StopTheDrop campaign aims to highlight the issue around childhood sports participation in Ireland today, one we cannot ignore for the sake of our children’s futures.”
Sonia’s focus on this crucial inter-schools window of opportunity is shared by other parents in Ireland.
A survey conducted by Allianz has shown that just over half of parents (52%) are concerned that their child will stop playing sport. Around a third of parents suggest that they don’t know how to help keep their child in sport.
Nonetheless, as many as 85% acknowledge that many children drop out of sport in their teens, with 78% suggesting that this can occur when they transition into secondary school.
The average age of dropout for Irish children is 11 years of age. Their reasons for stopping vary, but up to 71% of parents say that sport can be too competitive for children. Instead, the Allianz #StopTheDrop campaign is engaging with teachers, team coaches and influential elite athletes to spread the message that sport isn't all about winning, for most people it's about having fun and enjoying the health kick that comes with exercise.
“Sports clubs and associations are called upon to focus more on retention strategies that emphasise fun and personal development, rather than competition," state the authors of the report that accompanies the Allianz #StopTheDrop campaign. "This approach could particularly help retain those who might feel alienated by overly competitive sporting environments.
"Through targeted interventions aimed at making sport more accessible, enjoyable and less daunting, stakeholders can ensure that sports remain a vital part of children’s lives, thereby fostering healthier, more connected communities.
"This not only supports the physical and emotional development of Irish youth but also enriches the sporting culture in Ireland, ensuring a robust pipeline of talent and enthusiastic participants for future generations," the Allianz report states.
That more holistic view of participation in sports is also shared by most coaches, teachers and parents, who have a vital role to play in the lives of young people. Their support and encouragement can make all the difference when it comes to a young person choosing to stay in sport or to drop out.
The #StopTheDrop resource hub, created by Allianz and partners Move2B, provides practical supports to arm teachers, coaches and parents with the knowledge to help support the next generation. The hub resources aim to provide parents, teachers and coaches with the supports to help young people to navigate the hidden barriers that can often result in them dropping out of sports.
The Allianz research conducted for the #StopTheDrop campaign offers invaluable support for parents, coaches and others seeking to promote healthier choices among teenagers.
The research offers insights into the different nuances for girls and boys dropping out of sports, ranging from physical demands, peer influences, academic pressures and social factors.
Allianz, of course, has a long and proud history of commitment to Ireland. Championing sport has always been a core part of how the insurer has supported the passions of its customers.
Phillip Gronemeyer, Chief Executive Officer of Allianz Ireland, said: “Allianz has a long-standing commitment to Ireland and has always strived to live our purpose of securing our customers' futures. Over that time, championing sport has always been a core part of how we have supported the passions of our customers. Despite sport being a key part of our national identity, 1 in 5 children stop participating in sport when transitioning from primary to secondary school. As the largest insurer of schools in Ireland, insuring over 500,000 children, we want to play a part in stopping this drop in participation in sport.”
In the context of #StopTheDrop, Allianz is dedicated to doing its part in addressing the challenge of children dropping out of sport. It is a simple, clear and noble message that is not lost on parents, teachers and coaches. Neither is it lost on the elite athletes acting as Allianz Ambassadors.
