The line graphs illustrate changes in the average monthly expenditure of British parents on children’s sports and the number of children participating in football, athletics and swimming between 2008 and 2014.
Overall, monthly spending on children’s sports increased steadily throughout the period. Football remained by far the most popular sport, while athletics experienced the most substantial growth, overtaking swimming to become the second most popular activity by 2012.
In terms of expenditure, British parents spent an average of £20 per month on children’s sports in 2008. This figure rose steadily to £25 in 2010, before increasing more moderately to £27 in 2012. By the end of the period, monthly spending had reached approximately £31, representing an overall increase of £11 compared with the initial figure.
Regarding participation, football consistently attracted the largest number of children. Starting at 8 million in 2008, participation increased slightly to around 8.5 million by 2014. Swimming also followed an upward trend, with the number of participants rising gradually from 2 million to approximately 3.5 million over the same period.
Athletics, by contrast, recorded the most dramatic change. Although it was initially the least popular sport, with only 1 million participants in 2008, its popularity grew considerably over the following years. The number of children taking part reached 5 million in 2012, allowing athletics to overtake swimming. This figure then remained unchanged until 2014, consolidating its position as the second most popular sport.