Declines in adolescent sport participation coincide with school transitions and changing sport environments, but competition cannot be assumed to be a universal cause of dropout. This exploratory scoping review aimed to examine evidence linking competitive experiences, motivational processes, and sport continuation or dropout across school transitions. Seventeen traceable publications were charted (12 primary studies and five reviews), using a population–concept–context framework and PRISMA-ScR reporting principles. Selection was targeted rather than exhaustive; unrecorded screening counts are explicitly labelled as unavailable in the flow diagram. Findings were organized around participation trajectories, competitive motivational climates, and social support and inclusion. Longitudinal studies reported decreasing participation and associations of continuation with enjoyment, autonomy, perceived competence, and social support. The available evidence did not establish competition as the sole cause of declining participation: school demands, time constraints, and access conditions also mattered. Future research should jointly measure educational transitions, competitive climates, and verified dropout in prospective designs.
Declines in adolescent sport participation coincide with school transitions and changing sport environments, but competition cannot be assumed to be a universal cause of dropout. This exploratory scoping review aimed to examine evidence linking competitive experiences, motivational processes, and sport continuation or dropout across school transitions. Seventeen traceable publications were charted (12 primary studies and five reviews), using a population–concept–context framework and PRISMA-ScR reporting principles. Selection was targeted rather than exhaustive; unrecorded screening counts are explicitly labelled as unavailable in the flow diagram. Findings were organized around participation trajectories, competitive motivational climates, and social support and inclusion. Longitudinal studies reported decreasing participation and associations of continuation with enjoyment, autonomy, perceived competence, and social support. The available evidence did not establish competition as the sole cause of declining participation: school demands, time constraints, and access conditions also mattered. Future research should jointly measure educational transitions, competitive climates, and verified dropout in prospective designs. Read More