Development of Strategies for Enhancing Lifelong Engagement in Badminton

Background and Aims: Badminton is a widely popular sport across all age groups, valued for its contributions to physical fitness, health, emotional well-being, and social adjustment. It has been included in educational curricula from primary school to university. Despite many children and young people practicing basic badminton, a significant number discontinue the sport as they grow older, resulting in a decline in participation over time. According to the SPLISS model, policies and strategies should be developed to motivate individuals of all age groups to engage in their preferred sports, ensuring lifelong participation. Such engagement not only benefits individuals but also leverages their experiences to enhance overall sports development. This research aimed to develop strategies to promote lifelong engagement in badminton by encouraging interest and continuous participation. This research aimed was 1. Explore opinions on promoting and maintaining badminton at every level and age of participants. 2. To develop strategies for enhancing the lifelong engagement in badminton among children, youth, and the people. Materials and Methods: The research instruments included a questionnaire with a validity score of 0.98 and a reliability score of 0.95. The sample consisted of 673 individuals, including athletes, parents, club and association administrators, referees, coaches, and instructors involved in badminton. Participants were selected through convenience sampling. Data from the questionnaires were analyzed by using mean and standard deviation, while opinions from focus group discussions were analyzed through content analysis. Results: (1) The study explored opinions on the promotion and retention of badminton participation across different age groups. The findings were as follows: childhood. And youth, parents play a key role in fostering interest by encouraging basic skills and play, providing equipment, supporting competition participation, watching live matches, and engaging in sports activities together. These were highly rated motivations. Educational Institutions: schools and universities sustain engagement through structured sports programs, scholarships, and flexible academic policies, providing training and competition opportunities. Post-Graduation Support: community sports clubs should provide training, recreational plays, and career pathways in sports-related professions (e.g., coaching, refereeing) to prevent dropout. Post-Retirement from Competition: Former athletes benefit from senior competitions, coaching certification, and community sport leaders, ensuring continued involvement through recreational plays and training programs. Government and Policy Support: policies should enhance accessibility to facilities, provide grassroots development, and implement lifelong sports initiatives to sustain engagement at all levels. (2) The findings identified strategies to enhance lifelong engagement in badminton across different age groups. These included: Support from parents and families during childhood. Support from educational institutions during school enrollment. Community and sports organizations' support after graduation. Support from the community and sports organizations following retirement from athletic careers. The government's support for national sports development benefits all citizens. Conclusion: The proposed strategies encompass tailored approaches for children, young adults, students in educational institutions, post-graduates, and retired athletes, effectively covering all age groups. These strategies were deemed effective in enhancing participation and engagement in badminton.