What drives enjoyment in grassroots football for children? A Write–Draw–Show–Tell approach

Enjoyment is a critical factor in children’s motivation for participation in youth sports. Enjoyment is also a key component of physical literacy, with research demonstrating that enjoyment is the key driver for continued physical activity. The transition from non-competitive to competitive participation represents a key shift which may influence how children enjoy recreational sport. However, enjoyment of youth sport remains poorly explored, and no research has examined how children interpret enjoyment the across the transition from non-competitive to competitive formats of recreational sport. The present study used a Write – Draw – Show – Tell (WDST, Martins, 2024, Pediatric Exercise Science, 37(1), 81–91) approach to explore this issue in the context of grassroots football. Following institutional ethics approval, informed parental consent and child assent, 46 children, aged 9–15 years of age (24 boys, 22 girls), took part. Children were recruited from grassroots football clubs in England and participated in one of 11 sex and competitive stage specific WDST focus groups comprising 14–15-year-old boys, competitive (n = 12), 9–12-year-old boys, non-competitive (n = 12), 14–15-year-old girls, competitive (n = 8), 9–12-year-old girls, non-competitive (n = 14). Each group completed WDST activities involving short written prompts, drawing tasks, and guided discussion. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Five themes captured children’s psychological experiences: friendship and fun (n = 43), winning and improvement (n = 37), emotional highs and lows (n = 31), support systems (n = 34) and maturing within the game (n = 27). Gendered patterns were evident, with girls more frequently emphasising emotional support and social belonging, while boys described competitiveness, performance expectations, and outcome-focused pressure. This study suggests children’s experiences of grassroots football evolve as they move from non-competitive to competitive formats. We identify a developmental shift in enjoyment, moving from a primarily playful and social activity to one perceived as more serious and emotionally complex. Gendered patterns suggest that boys and girls may interpret similar environments differently, with enjoyment for boys being anchored in competition, where, for girls, social aspects underpinned enjoyment, irrespective of whether they were within the non-competitive or competitive formats of the game.