Inclusion and Exclusion Through Youth Sport

Description

"We can reach far more people through sport than we can through political or educational programmes. In that way, sport is more powerful than politics. We have only just started to use its potential to build up this country. We must continue to do so." – Nelson Mandela, said to the South African footballer, Lucas Radebe

Nelson Mandela’s statement reflects a widely held view that sport can contribute in unique and far-reaching ways to important broad social outcomes. But is it really the case? Can sport bring people from different backgrounds together, and, in doing so, can it act as a force for social transformation and change? In the increasingly popular language of policymakers and practitioners, can sport contribute to social inclusion? Or is it the case that sport actually acts to marginalize and disadvantage some groups within society? Does it reinforce, rather than challenge the inequities of society?

Focusing on youth sport as a touchstone sector of sport in society, this book examines the theoretical and empirical bases of arguments for sport’s role in the social inclusion agenda, offering international perspectives on an issue that underpins many of the bold claims and presumptions being made for the power of sport. It represents the most up-to-date and authoritative presentation of core knowledge related to inclusion and exclusion in youth sport and as such, will be invaluable reading for any student, researcher, policy maker or practitioner working in sports development, sports coaching, sport studies or physical education.

Contents

Editors’ Introduction SECTION 1: UNDERSTANDING INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION 1. Understanding social exclusion and sport 2. Sport, Social Divisions and Social Inequality 3. Socio-cultural Aspects of Exclusion from Sport Participation 4. The Economics of Exclusion 5. Bothering the Inclusion/ Exclusion Discourses of Youth Sport SECTION 2: THE CONSTRUCTION OF EXCLUSION 6. ‘I’ve lost my football’: Rethinking Gender, the Hidden Curriculum and Sport in the Global Context 7. Ethnicity and Sport: Exclusion through Religion and Culture 8. Ability as an exclusionary concept in youth sport 9. Sporting fat: Youth sport and the obesity ‘epidemic’ 10. Sexuality and Youth Sport, Ian Wellard SECTION 3: MOVING TOWARDS INCLUSION (context and issues) 11. Physical Education for All: The Impact of Curriculum on Student Choice 12. Facilitating Inclusion of Muslim Girls in School Sport 13. Young People’s Voices in Sport 14. Children’s Talent Development in Sport: Effectiveness or Efficiency? 15. Dance and Social Inclusion: Possibilities and Challenges 16. Disability Inclusion: In, From and Through Youth Sport 17. Lessons Learnt about Gender Equity and Inclusion in Physical Education 18. Sport and Youth Inclusion in the Majority World

Related Subjects

1. Sports Policy
2. Sociology of Sport
3. Physical Education & Coaching
4. Youth Sports Development
5. Community Sport