Отношение студентов первого курса Волгоградского института управления к спортивному ориентированию и перспективы его популяризации

First‑year students’ attitudes towards orienteering at the Volgograd Institute of Management and prospects for its popularization

The article examines first-year students’ attitudes towards orienteering at the Volgograd Institute of Management and considers the conditions under which this form of physical activity may become more attractive to students. The study is based on an anonymous survey of first-year students and covers awareness of orienteering, previous experience, willingness to try it, attractive features of the sport, perceived reasons for its limited popularity, and possible measures for promotion. The findings show that limited practical experience is not accompanied by a clearly negative attitude: a considerable proportion of respondents are willing to try orienteering or take part in an introductory university event. Students most often associated their interest with participation together with friends, development of attention and navigation skills, and a competitive element, while the main barrier was lack of information. The article proposes practical measures for introducing students to orienteering that take into account the barriers and motivational factors identified in the survey.