Football in Australia - Participation

Participation

In 2009 and 2010, 1.2 million Australians over the age of fifteen participated in one football code or another. Australian rules football and outdoor soccer were the most popular football codes played by Australian children in 2009, with 8.6% and 13% participation total. Soccer was the most popular football code by participation rate in Australia amongst males in 2010. The Barassi Line is a rough dividing line between areas where Australia rules is most popular and where rugby union and rugby league are most popular.

Sport Total participation Year Participation % Year Ref
Soccer 7.7% 1998/1999
Australian rules 615,549 2007 6.2% 1998/1999
Rugby league 1,500,000 2011 14.6% 2011
Rugby union 5.4% 1998/1999

Historically, rugby league participation has been high in New South Wales and Queensland. By 1975, there were 375,000 registered players, making it for the first time the second most popular football code nationally based on participation.

Soccer participation was for many years confined to Australian's newly arriving European ethnic groups. The sport would have 320,000 registered players by 2000.

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