How Americans Spend Their Time - Sports And Fitness Activities Are Important To Many Americans

Like tastes in food, fashion, and music, American exercise habits have undergone significant shifts. Participation in sports and other fitness activities is important to many Americans. In Sports Participation Topline Report (2004), the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) described facts about Americans who were frequent or occasional sports participants, along with Americans'preoccupation with fitness and trends in fitness activity (see Table 1.6):

• Participation in team sports generally decreased between 1998 and 2003.
• More people were participating in camping, hiking, and mountaineering, while hunting and fishing declined in popularity.
• Recreational activities that were considered enjoyable continued to attract enthusiasts—there were an estimated 96.4 million recreational swimmers, 88.8 million recreational walkers, and 53.7 million recreational bicyclists.
• Interest in weight-reducing and muscle-toning fitness exercises remained high—participation in the Pilates method of flexibility and strength training grew by 444.5% in three years, while use of elliptical motion trainers (which combine elements of ski machines and stair climbers) grew by 247.3% in five years.
• Extreme sports was an area of strong growth—from 1987 to 2003 participation in mountain biking jumped by 359%, while snowboarding grew by 269.5% from 1990 to 2003.

The SGMA report also concluded that Americans preferred noncompetitive sports and fitness activities that were less intense. Of the top twenty most popular sports, basketball was the only team sport named. It claimed 35.4 million participants, twice as many as football's eighteen million, soccer's 17.7 million, and softball's sixteen million.

America's Most Popular Sports

The SGMA's list of the top thirty most popular sports in America based on the number of participants for 2003 was topped by bowling, with fifty-five million. It was followed by treadmill exercise (45.6 million), freshwater fishing (43.8 million), stretching (42.1 million), tent camping (41.9 million), and billiards (40.7 million). Twelve of the top thirty were fitness-related activities. (See Table 1.7.)

Gender and Age Influence Sports and Fitness Choices

Athletically inclined American men seemed to prefer individual rather than team sports. Fourteen out of the top fifteen most popular sports for male participants were solo activities. The most popular sports activity for men in 2003 was freshwater fishing, with 9.2 million participating in it at least fifteen days during the year. Men also found fitness activities appealing, with 8.5 million of them lifting barbells a hundred or more days a year, and 7.9 million lifting dumbbells. Stretching (7.6 million),

TABLE 1.6

Sports participation trends, reported by SGMA International, selected years 1987–2003
	1987 Benchmark	1993	1998	2001	2002	2003	1 year% change (2002–2003)	16 year% change (1987–2003)
Fitness activities
Aerobics (high impact)	13,961	10,356	7,460	6,401	5,423	5,875	+8.3	−57.9
Aerobics (low impact)	11,888	13,418	12,774	10,026	9,286	8,813	−5.1	−25.9
Aerobics (step)	n.a.	11,502	10,784	8,542	8,336	8,457	+1.5	−26.52
Aerobics (net)	21,225	24,839	21,017	16,948	16,046	16,451	+2.5	−22.5
Other exercise to music	n.a.	n.a.	13,846	13,076	13,540	14,159	+4.6	+2.34
Aquatic exercise	n.a.	n.a.	6,685	7,103	6,995	7,141	+2.1	+6.84
Calisthenics	n.a.	n.a.	30,982	29,392	26,862	28,007	+4.3	−9.64
Cardio kickboxing	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	6,665	5,940	5,489	−7.6	−27.85
Fitness bicycling	n.a.	n.a.	13,556	10,761	11,153	12,048	+8.0	−11.14
Fitness walking	27,164	36,325	36,395	36,445	37,981	37,945	−0.1	+39.7
Running/Jogging	37,136	34,057	34,962	34,857	35,866	36,152	+0.8	−2.6
Fitness swimming	16,912	17,485	15,258	15,300	14,542	15,899	+9.3	−6.0
Pilates training	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	2,437	4,671	9,469	+102.7	+444.56
Stretching	n.a.	n.a.	35,114	38,120	38,367	42,096	+9.7	+19.94
Yoga/Tai Chi	n.a.	n.a.	5,708	9,741	11,106	13,371	+20.4	+134.34
Equipment exercise
Barbells	n.a.	n.a.	21,263	23,030	24,812	25,645	+3.4	+20.64
Dumbells	n.a.	n.a.	23,414	26,773	28,933	30,549	+5.6	+30.54
Hand weights	n.a.	n.a.	23,325	27,086	28,453	29,720	+4.5	+27.44
Free weights (net)	22,553	28,564	41,266	45,407	48,261	51,567	+6.9	+128.6
Weight/resistance machines	15,261	19,446	22,519	25,942	27,848	29,996	+7.7	+96.6
Home gym exercise	3,905	6,258	7,577	8,497	8,924	9,260	+3.8	+137.1
Abdominal machine/device	n.a.	n.a.	16,534	18,692	17,370	17,364	0	+5.04
Rowing machine exercise	14,481	11,263	7,485	7,089	7,092	6,484	−8.6	−55.2
Stationary cycling (upright bike)	n.a.	n.a.	20,744	17,483	17,403	17,488	+0.5	−15.74
Stationary cycling (spinning)	n.a.	n.a.	6,776	6,418	6,135	6,462	+5.3	−4.64
Stationary cycling (recumbent bike)	n.a.	n.a.	6,773	8,654	10,217	10,683	+4.6	+57.74
Stationary cycling (net)	30,765	35,975	30,791	28,720	29,083	30,952	+6.4	+0.6
Treadmill exercise	4,396	19,685	37,073	41,638	43,431	45,572	+4.9	+936.7
Stair-climbing machine exercise	2,121	22,494	18,609	15,117	14,251	14,321	+0.5	+575.2
Aerobic rider	n.a.	n.a.	5,868	3,918	3,654	2,955	−19.1	−49.64
Elliptical motion trainer	n.a.	n.a.	3,863	8,255	10,695	13,415	+25.4	+247.34
Cross-country ski machine exercise	n.a.	9,792	6,870	4,924	5,074	4,744	−6.5	−25.81
Team sports
Baseball	15,098	15,586	12,318	11,405	10,402	10,885	+4.6	−27.1
Basketball	35,737	42,138	42,417	38,663	36,584	35,439	−3.1	−0.8
Cheerleading	n.a.	3,257	3,266	3,844	3,596	3,574	−0.6	+17.6
Ice hockey	2,393	3,204	2,915	2,344	2,612	2,789	+6.8	+16.5
Field hockey	n.a.	n.a.	1,375	1,249	1,096	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Football (touch)	20,292	21,241	17,382	16,675	14,903	14,119	−5.3	−30.4
Football (tackle)	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	5,400	5,783	5,751	−0.6	+16.65
Football (net)	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	19,199	18,703	17,958	−4.0	−4.15
Lacrosse	n.a.	n.a.	926	1,099	921	1,132	+22.9	+22.24
Rugby	n.a.	n.a.	546	573	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Soccer (indoor)	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	4,563	n.a.	n.a.
Soccer (outdoor)	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	16,133	n.a.	n.a.
Soccer (net)	15,388	16,365	18,176	19,042	17,641	17,679	+0.2	+14.9
Softball (regular)	n.a.	n.a.	19,407	17,679	14,372	14,410	+0.3	−25.74
Softball (fast-pitch)	n.a.	n.a.	3,702	4,117	3,658	3,487	−4.7	−5.84
Softball (net)	n.a.	n.a.	21,352	20,123	16,587	16,020	−3.4	−25.04
Volleyball (hard surface)	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	12,802	11,748	11,008	−6.3	−14.07
Volleyball (grass)	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	10,330	8,621	7,953	−7.7	−23.07
Volleyball (beach)	n.a.	13,509	10,572	7,791	7,516	7,454	−0.8	−35.51
Volleyball (net)	35,984	37,757	26,637	24,123	21,488	20,286	−5.6	−43.6
Racquet sports
Badminton	14,793	11,908	9,936	7,684	6,765	5,937	−12.2	−59.9
Racquetball	10,395	7,412	5,853	5,296	4,840	4,875	+0.7	−53.1
Squash	n.a.	n.a.	289	n.a.	302	473	+56.6	n.a.
Tennis	21,147	19,346	16,937	15,098	16,353	17,325	+5.9	−18.1
Personal contact sports
Boxing	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	932	908	945	+4.1	+4.55
Martial arts	n.a.	n.a.	5,368	5,999	5,996	6,883	+14.8	+28.24
Wrestling	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	2,360	2,026	1,820	−10.2	−28.55

calisthenics (6.7 million), and fitness walking (6.6 million) followed closely behind. The highest-ranked team sport, basketball, was played by 5.6 million men at least once a week. (See Table 1.8.)

Women also chose individual fitness activities over team sports. In 2003 the most popular choices of female fitness enthusiasts included stretching (10.7 million participants), fitness walking (9.8 million), treadmill exercise

Indoor sports
Billiards/Pool	35,297	40,254	39,654	39,263	39,527	40,726	+3.0	+15.4
Bowling	47,823	49,022	50,593	55,452	53,160	55,035	+3.5	+15.1
Darts	n.a.	n.a.	21,792	19,460	19,703	19,486	−1.1	−10.64
Table tennis	n.a.	17,689	14,999	13,239	12,796	13,511	+5.6	−32.71
Wheel sports
Roller hockey	n.a.	2,323	3,876	2,733	2,875	2,718	−5.5	+17.02
Roller skating (2×2 wheels)	n.a.	24,223	14,752	11,443	10,968	11,746	+7.1	−56.71
Roller skating (inline wheels)	n.a.	13,689	32,010	26,022	21,572	19,233	−10.8	+309.61
Scooter riding (non-motorized)	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	15,796	13,858	11,493	−17.1	−17.26
Skateboarding	10,888	5,388	7,190	12,459	12,997	11,090	−14.7	+1.9
Other sports/activities
Bicycling (BMX)	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	3,668	3,885	3,365	−13.4	−9.85
Bicycling (recreational)	n.a.	n.a.	54,575	52,948	53,524	53,710	+0.3	−1.64
Golf	26,261	28,610	29,961	29,382	27,812	27,314	−1.8	+4.04
Gymnastics	n.a.	n.a.	6,224	5,557	5,149	5,189	+0.8	−16.64
Swimming (recreational)	n.a.	n.a.	94,371	93,571	92,667	96,429	+4.1	+2.24
Walking (recreational)	n.a.	n.a.	80,864	84,182	84,986	88,799	+4.5	−9.84
Outdoors activities
Camping (tent)	35,232	34,772	42,677	43,472	40,316	41,891	+3.9	+18.9
Camping (recreational vehicle)	22,655	22,187	18,188	19,117	18,747	19,022	+1.5	−16.0
Camping (net)	50,386	49,858	50,650	52,929	49,808	51,007	+2.4	+1.2
Hiking (day)	n.a.	n.a.	38,629	36,915	36,778	39,096	+6.3	+1.24
Hiking (overnight)	n.a.	n.a.	6,821	6,007	5,839	6,213	+6.4	−8.94
Hiking (net)	n.a.	n.a.	40,117	37,999	37,888	40,409	+6.7	+0.74
Horseback riding	n.a.	n.a.	16,522	16,648	14,641	16,009	+9.3	−3.14
Mountain biking	1,512	7,408	8,611	6,189	6,719	6,940	+3.3	+359.0
Mountain/Rock climbing	n.a.	n.a.	2,004	1,819	2,089	2,169	+3.8	+8.24
Artificial wall climbing	n.a.	n.a.	4,696	7,377	7,185	8,634	+20.2	+83.94
Trail running	n.a.	n.a.	5,249	5,773	5,625	6,109	+8.6	+16.44
Shooting sports
Archery	8,558	8,648	7,109	6,442	6,650	7,111	+6.9	−16.9
Hunting (shotgun/rifle)	25,241	23,189	16,684	16,672	16,471	15,232	−7.5	−39.7
Hunting (bow)	n.a.	n.a.	4,719	4,435	4,752	4,155	−12.6	+12.04
Paintball	n.a.	n.a.	5,923	7,678	8,679	9,835	+13.3	+66.04
Shooting (sport clays)	n.a.	3,100	2,734	3,324	3,017	3,867	+28.2	+31.91
Shooting (trap/skeet)	5,073	n.a.	3,800	3,904	3,696	4,496	+21.6	+11.4
Target shooting (rifle)	n.a.	n.a.	14,042	13,979	14,336	15,176	+5.9	+8.14
Target shooting (handgun)8	n.a.	n.a.	12,110	11,402	11,064	13,836	+25.1	+14.34
Target shooting (net)8	18,947	23,498	18,330	17,838	17,558	19,788	+12.7	+4.4
Fishing
Fishing (fly)	11,359	6,598	7,269	5,999	6,034	6,033	0	−46.9
Fishing (freshwater-other)	50,500	50,198	45,807	43,547	42,605	43,819	+2.8	−13.2
Fishing (saltwater)	19,646	18,490	15,671	13,871	14,874	15,221	+2.3	−22.5
Fishing (net)	58,402	55,442	55,488	53,137	51,426	52,970	+3.0	−9.3
Winter sports
Ice skating	n.a.	n.a.	18,710	16,753	14,530	17,049	+17.3	−8.94
Skiing (cross-country)	8,344	6,489	4,728	4,123	4,080	4,171	+2.2	−50.0
Skiing (downhill)	17,676	17,567	14,836	13,202	14,249	13,633	−4.3	−22.9
Snowboarding	n.a.	2,567	5,461	6,797	7,691	7,818	+1.7	+269.51
Snowmobiling	n.a.	n.a.	6,492	6,451	4,515	5,509	+22.0	−15.14
Snowshoeing	n.a.	n.a.	1,721	2,042	2,006	2,479	+23.6	+44.04

(6.2 million), lifting hand weights (4.6 million), and running or jogging (4.2 million). The preferred activity of men, fishing, ranked eleventh for women, with 3.1 million participants. (See Table 1.9.)

Popular Sports for Children and Seniors

America's love of sports and fitness was not bounded by age. The SGMA studied recreational activities that were "frequent" among youths aged six to seventeen during 2003. Active American children and teens enjoyed both team and individual sports, with their top choices being basketball (4.1 million participants), fishing (3.5 million), inline skating (3.5 million), and running/jogging (3.1 million). Stretching, calisthenics, baseball, outdoor soccer, skateboarding, and touch football rounded out the top ten most popular pursuits of younger Americans. (See Table 1.10.)

Many of America's older adults (those over age fifty-five) have embraced exercise as a strategy for enhancing health and wellness, and the 2003 SGMA survey found that seniors were frequent participants in recreational and fitness activities. Thirteen of the fifteen most popular sports and activities were fitness or outdoor pursuits, led by fitness walking (6.3 million participants), stretching (four million), treadmill exercise (3.1 million), golf (three

1Thirteen-year change
2Ten-year change
3Six-year change
4Five-year change
5Four-year change
6Three-year change
7Two-year change
82003 figure is elevated due to change in category definition from "Pistol" to "Handgun."
SOURCE: "SGMA Sports Participation Trends," in "Sports Participation Topline Report," Superstudy of Sports Participation, SGMA International, 2004, http://www.sgma.com/reports/2004/report1081955240-11847.html (accessed September 9, 2004)
Water sports
Boardsailing/Windsurfing	1,145	835	1,075	537	496	779	+57.1	−32.0
Canoeing	n.a.	n.a.	13,615	12,044	10,933	11,632	+6.4	−14.64
Kayaking	n.a.	n.a.	3,501	4,727	5,562	6,324	+13.7	+80.64
Rafting	n.a.	n.a.	5,570	4,580	4,431	4,553	+2.8	−18.34
Jet skiing	n.a.	n.a.	11,203	10,593	9,806	10,648	+8.6	−5.04
Sailing	6,368	3,918	5,902	5,230	5,161	5,232	+1.4	−17.8
Scuba diving	2,433	2,306	3,448	2,744	3,328	3,215	−3.4	+32.1
Snorkeling	n.a.	n.a.	10,575	9,788	9,865	10,179	+3.2	−3.74
Surfing	1,459	n.a.	1,395	1,601	1,879	2,087	+11.1	+43.0
Wakeboarding	n.a.	n.a.	2,253	3,097	3,142	3,356	+6.8	+49.04
Water skiing	19,902	16,626	10,161	8,301	8,204	8,425	+2.7	−57.7
Water sports

TABLE 1.7

Most popular sports and activities, 2003
Sport/activity	Number of participants aged 6 and above (in millions)
SOURCE: "America's Favorite Sports and Activites in 2003," in Superstudy of Sports Participation, SGMA International, April 9, 2004, http://www.sgma.com/press/2004/press1081869229-23051.html (accessed September 9, 2004)
1. Bowling	55
2. Treadmill exercise	45.6
3. Fishing (freshwater - other)	43.8
4. Stretching	42.1
5. Tent camping	41.9
6. Billiards/pool	40.7
7. Day hiking	39.1
8. Fitness walking	37.9
9. Running/jogging	36.2
10. Basketball	35.4
11. Dumbbells	30.5
12. Weight/resistance machines	30
13. Hand weights	29.7
14. Calisthenics	28
15. Golf	27.3
16. Barbells	25.6
17. Darts	19.5
18. Inline skating	19.2
19. RV camping	19
20. Stationary cycling (upright bike)	17.5
21. Abdominal machine/device	17.4
22. Tennis	17.3
23. Ice skating	17
24. Soccer (outdoor)	16.1
25. Horseback riding	16
26. Fitness swimming	15.9
27. Hunting (rifle)	15.2
27. Saltwater fishing	15.2
27. Target shooting (rifle)	15.2
30. Softball (regular)	14.4

million), and fishing (2.6 million). Other popular choices in the seniors' top ten included recreational vehicle camping, free weight training, bowling, weight and resistance machines, and day hiking. (See Table 1.11.)