1.0 CHAPTER ONE                       

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

The Greek Olympic Games serve as a reminder that sports have always been a source of enjoyment for people. The anthropological and archaeological records of early European explorers provide evidence that sports predate human civilization (Ademola 2015). All physical activities that improve mental health, physical fitness, and social interaction—including play, leisure, competitive or organised sports, and indigenous sports and games—can be categorised as sports (Barghchi & Omar 2014). It is impossible to overstate the significance of sports in today's world as one of the most dependable ways to get above the limitations of physical, emotional, social, and psychological stress. According to research, those who play sports on a regular basis are physically fitter than those who don't. People who spend most of their days sitting down and do not engage in physical activity are more likely to face health issues later in life, such as increased stress and low self-esteem, which can make it difficult for them to handle life's responsibilities (Olanipekun & Akindutire 2017). Participating in sports is crucial to the planning process for many parts of life, such as career, culture, and educational pursuits. As a result, it is now one of the most significant curricula in educational institutions and ought to be utilised to support students' overall growth at University of Illorin. Playing sports improves bone density, cognitive function, muscular strength, motor and aerobic capacity, controls childhood obesity, lowers blood pressure, and lessens fatigue.

Olanipekun  & Akindutire (2017) revealed that a large number of individuals with degenerative circulatory problems have a tendency to consume diets high in fat and cholesterol, gain weight, experience emotional stress, and neglect to engage in regular physical activity or sports. Playing sports promotes self-esteem, endurance, physical fitness, and a healthy body weight in its participants. Sports serve as a social glue that unites college students from various communities, schools, and backgrounds and allows their parents to show appreciation for one another. Students form friendships, teamwork, and partnerships with peers and adults through sports activities; this practice can significantly improve unity and the development of the University of Illorin. Furthermore, university school coaches and lecturers can serve as excellent role models by imparting wisdom and encouragement through sports. The relationships that students build with these professionals are crucial to their success because they motivate them to reach their full potential both physically and academically (Adesoye 2012).

These advantages underline how important it is for all schools to support student and staff participation in sports as a means of encouraging physical activity, which is essential for enhancing and preserving health and wellbeing in Nigeria (Roy 2014). Sports participation motivates people to get moving by exercising and partaking in other physical activities. Individuals who cultivate a physical activity habit as youngsters are more likely to maintain it as adults, live a healthy lifestyle, stay in shape, and perform at their best overall than those who do not. This was emphasised by Adesoye (2012), He stated that physical activity promotes the formation of cerebral blood vessels, improves synaptic transmission, elevates mood and functions as a natural antidepressant, improves memory, and increases brain density. Regular exercise not only helps schoolchildren learn and perform better academically, but it also encourages a healthy ageing process with better cognitive function maintenance (Olanipekun & Akindutire 2017) As a result, sports engagement helps students do better academically since it reduces the stress associated with studying, increases concentration, and rejuvenates the brain for improved cognitive function. The individual's culture, family, and society all have an impact on the social elements that influence adults' and kids' participation in sports. It has been discovered that important social factors that affect sports involvement include culture and tradition, age, gender, economic level, and parents. (Dominic et al. 2017). As the student's initial socialisation point, the family has a significant impact on the child's whole upbringing and shapes his or her early outlook on life. As a result of the importance of role models, financial assistance, and psychological support, parents are crucial to their students participation in sports and physical activity. But parents who don't enjoy sports have a bad impact on their kids. (Dominic et al. 2017). A significant socioeconomic element influencing human kinetic students' involvement in sports is the absence of playgrounds that are accessible, of good quality, and are kept up to date. The majority of schools lack their own sports facilities and equipment, and those that do have access to them are frequently insufficient, of low quality, or badly maintained (Higgs & Langford 2015).

Students' social class statuses are correlated with their economic status, which encompasses both prestige- and resource-based metrics. Due to the inability to pay for sports club dues, uniforms, transportation to sporting events and equipment, a student's financial situation immediately affects that of his or her parents and has a major impact on their involvement in sports. Parents' affordability is influenced by their socioeconomic level, which in turn affects their child's participation in and performance in sports (Higgs et al. 2015). This indicates that the obstacles and setbacks of poor economic position encountered early in life may prevent the majority of students  with exceptional sporting potential from pursuing their goals in sports. The majority of parents choose to invest their limited resources on their kids' education because it is often believed in society that athletics can serve as a diversion from rigorous academic work. Gender-related factors have an impact on sports involvement from an early age, since research has shown that females typically participate in sports at a lower rate than boys. (Higgs  et al. 2015). In contrast to their male counterparts, female children typically have more household duties that occupy their time at home. In addition, stereotypes based on culture and religion, fear of sexual assault, and other fears prevent women from participating in sports. The low number of female athletes is not the result of a lack of motivation, but rather of social constraints resulting from stereotyping and direct and indirect forms of discrimination against sports that require physically demanding activity (Olanipekun & Akindutire 2017).

It is well known that brothers and sisters with the same parents inherit different traits from different ancestors on both sides of the family. For example, there may be differences in eye color, height, cholesterol level, fitness level, or the ease with which one loses or gains weight. Only identical twins have the same genetic background because they are duplicates of the same person. Non-identical or fraternal twins are as different genetically as any other two siblings. Every cell in the body has DNA molecules, which contain genes. A person's genotype, or genetic potential, is the culmination of all the thousands of genes that make up their body. Not every gene in the genotype is utilised or expressed to its maximum capacity, though. Phenotypes are the features that indicate an individual's level of expression of different genes based on their anatomical, physiological, biochemical, and behavioural characteristics at a given moment. Both the current expression of a trait and its response to environmental changes are determined by genes.

It is true that genes affect an individual's phenotypes, or innate qualities, as well as the rate and degree to which these phenotypes can be altered by training, diet, and other environmental factors. Athletes who excel in a new sport right away most likely possess a high enough degree of at least some of the genetically determined phenotypes needed to be successful in that sport. Superior athletes most likely experience early success and favourable comments from rivals. Prospective athletes should experiment with a variety of sports to see which ones they enjoy and do well in.. These variables most likely serve as a more accurate selection guide than any genetic background investigation performed in a lab. One cannot foresee who will emerge victorious. Coaches, however, have the authority to choose applicants based on the qualities necessary for success in that particular sport. Many of these traits are influenced by the genes. Certain sports have other elements (such strategy and technique) that are unaffected by genetics. Elite champions need to be masters of strategy and technique in addition to having the inherited qualities required for success in their respective sports. However, athletes who possess skill in tactics and technique but lack genetic giftedness may nonetheless succeed at non-elite competitive levels which can hinder their participation in Sporting activities. It is to this the study centers on  the influence of heredity and socio economic status on sports participation of students in university of Ilorin.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Sports are now a crucial component of society and personal development. Students  who play sports grow up to be fitter, healthier, achieve better academically, and lead more active lives. Better social contact, increased productivity at work, a lower risk of chronic illnesses, and a lower death rate are all maintained as a result. Despite these advantages, the researchers found that a number of students in the University of Illorin's Human Kinetics Department do not play sports. This could be because human behaviour is influenced by heredity and socio-economic forces. The impact of several factors, such as gender, parental influence, economic status, and generitcs , on sports participation has not been extensively studied among students in the Human Kinetics department at the University of Illorin, Nigeria. These factors impact sport participation differently. hence, the need for this study. Objective of the Study. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of heredity and socio economic status on sports participation of students in university of Ilorin.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main aim of this study is to examine the influence of heredity and socio economic status on sports participation of students in university of Ilorin. Other specific objectives of the study include:

1 To examine the impact of family genetics on sports participation among human kinetic students in university of illorin

2 To examine the impact of cultural gender discrimination on sports participation among human kinetic students in university of illorin

3 To examine the impact of parental support on sports participation among human kinetic students in university of illorin

4. To outline other factors that influence sports participation of students in university of illorin

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1 What is the impact of family genetics on sports participation among human kinetic students in university of illorin?

2 What is the impact of cultural gender discrimination on sports participation among human kinetic students in university of illorin?

3 What is the impact of parental support on sports participation among human kinetic students in university of illorin?

4. What are the other factors that influence sports participation of students in university of illorin?

1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

HO1: there is no significant impact of family genetics on sports participation in university of illorin

HO2: there is no significant impact of cultural gender discrimination on sports participation in university of illorin

HO3: there is no impact of parental support on sports participation in university of illorin

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The study will be of significance to the parents, teachers and educational researchers because the information collected by the researcher will actually contribute to their general understanding of the influence of heredity and  socio-economic status on sports participation . The Ministry of Education and policy makers in education sector may also use the findings in this study to address the problem of lack of sports participation among students in Nigeria. This study will also contribute to the body of knowledge in general by providing direction to future researchers who may wish to further their investigation on similar topic. Through this study,  sports organizations will understand the influence of heredity and socio economic status on sports participation  and thus obtain appropriate knowledge on how best to contribute/participate in sports sector. 

1.7 Scope of the Study

This study is delimited to the influence of heredity and socio economic status on sports participation of students in university of ilorin. This research will be on selected students in Human kinetic department University of Illorin.

1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS

SOCIO ECONOMIC STATUS: Socioeconomic status is an economic and sociological combined total measure of a person's work experience and of an individual's or family's access to economic resources and social position in relation to others

SPORT PARTICIPATION: Sports participation is an organized activity in which adolescents spend a substantial amount of their leisure time. Sporting activities are social contexts that expose adolescents to like-minded peers and adults

HEREDITY: Heredity, also called inheritance or biological inheritance, is the passing on of traits from parents to their offspring; either through asexual reproduction or sexual reproduction, the offspring cells or organisms acquire the genetic information of their parents.