National Research

Good Sports is recognised in the community health sector for its extensive research and evaluation.  The program was developed following research conducted by the Australian Drug Foundation that showed high risk consumption of alcohol in community sporting clubs.

Every club that participates in the Good Sports program provides baseline data when they commence and this information is collected again when the club achieves level 3 accreditation. Additional studies are conducted in order to evaluate the programs impact in community sports clubs. The most recent national studies are listed below.

Outcome study 2

Good Sports aims to reduce risky levels of alcohol consumption, drink driving incidents and other alcohol related harms in community sports clubs.  This latest study conducted in Australian Rules Football Clubs over the winter of 2006 investigated whether any differences in the following measures occurred as clubs moved through the program:

1. Alcohol consumption and risky drinking
2. Drink-driving
3. Alcohol related consequences

Findings from the study indicate positive trends in relation to these measures.

A copy of the report is available below.

Social Capital study 

Social capital can be described as the 'invisible glue' that holds a community together.  It is essentially the resources inherent in a community that promote trust, participation and the development of individuals.

This study ('Is the club really a better place?') completed in 2006, investigated whether clubs that had reached the highest level of accreditation in the Good Sports program (Level 3) had high levels of social capital and what elements contributed the most to social capital within these clubs.

National Attitude and Behaviours study

In 2004, the Alcohol Education & Rehabilitation Foundation funded a national survey into alcohol attitudes and behaviours in community sporting clubs, (see report 'The Culture and Context of Alcohol Use in Community Sporting Clubs in Australia'.)  This report confirmed findings from previous research indicating high risk consumption of alcohol in community sports clubs and the need for a program such as Good Sports.  Some of the findings from the report include:

For men aged 18-30 drinking at sporting clubs:

• 1 in five are consuming between 7 or more drinks in a night*
• The average number of drinks consumed is five a night*
• 32% are drinking at a level which will harm their long term health leading to conditions such as heart disease, cancer and mental heath problems**
• The average time spent drinking is just over two hours, and
• Over three quarters drive home from their sports club and 30% have had too much to drink to drive safely.

For women aged 18-30 drinking at sporting clubs:

• 6% are consuming ten or more drinks in a night*
• The average number of drinks consumed is 3 a night*
• 58% are drinking at a level which will harm their long term health
• The average time spent drinking is less than 1 ¾ hours
• 80% drive home from their sports club and 30% have had too much to drink and drive.

 *One standard drink = 1 middy of beer, 1 nip of spirit (30 ml)
**National Alcohol Strategy Fact Sheets, Harms Associated with Alcohol, Fact Sheet 19, Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing

 Outcome Study 2 - PDF - 214KB
 Social Capital Study - PDF - 171KB
 National Attitudes and Behaviours Study (Exec. Summary) - PDF - 75KB