Name: Jaya Shankar
Country: India

Year: 2026
Volume: Volume-11, (Special Issue: March 2026)
Page Number: 461-468
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20525152

ABSTRACT
Sports and physical activities play a vital role in the holistic development of undergraduate students by promoting physical fitness, mental well-being, and social skills. Despite these benefits, a growing trend of non-participation and disengagement in sports activities has been observed among students in rural colleges. The present study aims to analyze the level of sports participation and to examine the socio-demographic and institutional factors contributing to non-participation and disengagement among undergraduate students in rural degree colleges. The study is based on both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 100 undergraduate students selected from two rural government degree colleges in Mysuru District. Secondary data were sourced from books, journals, and research reports. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques with the help of SPSS version 21.0. The findings reveal that financial constraints, fear of injury, academic pressure, lack of motivation, inadequate training facilities, and insufficient institutional support are the major reasons for students’ disengagement from sports activities. The study also indicates that socio-demographic variables such as gender, age, and academic stream influence levels of sports participation. The study suggests the need for improved sports infrastructure, financial assistance, qualified coaching, flexible academic schedules, and motivational programs to enhance sports participation among rural undergraduate students in selected study area.

Keywords: Sports participation, Non-participation, Disengagement, Undergraduate students, Rural colleges.