Alexa Fowler, J. Paige Pope

Children who participate in sport tend to demonstrate higher associations with physical activity (PA) and better health outcomes, with some evidence suggesting that youth sport participation is associated with greater exercise in adulthood. However, contrasting evidence indicates that some former athletes exhibit reduced activity levels, compared to PA guidelines following retirement from sport. This highlights that sport participation alone does not ensure lifelong engagement in exercise. The Public Fitness Facility (PFF) is widely used by adult exercisers due to its accessibility, equipment availability, and societal promotion. Existing studies suggest that past sport experiences are strong predictors of PFF use and exercise frequency. Guided by Social Cognitive Theory, this multiple case study focuses on former competitive athletes who have been retired from sport for a minimum of one year and explores differences between those who currently exercise in the PFF, and those who do not. The study aims to explore how youth sport experiences may influence exercise behaviors. In pursuit of these aims, the following research questions are proposed: (RQ1) Why are some former athletes comfortable in public fitness facilities while others are not? (RQ2) Why do some former athletes engage in exercise in public fitness facilities while others do not? (RQ3) How do prior youth sport experiences influence decisions to exercise and comfort in the PFF? The findings of this study may inform parents, coaches, and athletes about how experiences within youth sport influence future exercise behaviour, with the goal of promoting practices that encourage lifelong participation in exercise.