User Groups

• User Groups


  • Young children
  • Retired people
  • Economically disadvantaged people
  • People from different ethnic groups
• User Groups have Different Needs for Sport


  • Group exit from regular exercise
  • Places may cater to different user groups
  • Each user group has specific needs when participating in sport
  • Needs include things such as the facilities and time available
• Young children


  • Need activities that are fun and engaging and take place before or after school hours
• Retired people


  • Need exercises that are gentle as older people often have more mobility issues and health conditions
• Economically disadvantaged people


  • Need activities that are local as they may lack transport and are affordable or subsidised
• People from different ethnic groups

  • Need private changing rooms in sports facilities due to religious reasons
• Sports can be Adapted for Disabilities

  • Wide range of disabilities including visual, hearing, physical and intellectual
  • Many disabilities are non-visible
  • Some sports have been adapted or created to be more accessible
• Goalball


  • A sport for people with visual impairments, where the aim is to throw a ball with bells inside towards their opponents' goal
• Boccia


  • A team or individual sport for people with physical impairments where players then kick or roll leather balls towards a white target ball
• It's important that all user groups have the same access to facilities and information
• Specialist equipment/systems


  • Pool hoists to help lower disabled swimmers into the water
  • Braille and raised dots on leaflets and signs to assist visually impaired people
  • Hearing induction loops to assist wearers of hearing aids
• Barriers to Participation


  • Lack of awareness
  • Lack of transport
  • Lack of affordable activities
  • Lack of suitable facilities
  • Lack of information
• Barriers can prevent user groups from participating in sport