1st Edition

Routledge Handbook of Physical Literacy

Edited By Liz Durden-Myers Copyright 2026
692 Pages 27 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

692 Pages 27 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

This handbook is a comprehensive, authoritative, and evidence-based guide to contemporary and global developments in the field of physical literacy. It brings together leading scholars and practitioners from around the world to examine the importance of physical literacy across the life course. Centred on the International Physical Literacy Association’s definition of physical literacy as the... Read more

PART I

Conceptualising physical literacy

Liz Durden-Myers

1 Physical Literacy Origin(s)

Liz Durden-Myers, Gillian Bartle, Margaret Whitehead, Karamjeet

Dhillon, Brett Wilkie, and James Rudd

2 Unpacking Physical Literacy Definitions and Domains

Brett Wilkie and James Rudd

3 Physical and Literacy

Liz Durden-Myers

4 The Underpinning Principles of Physical Literacy

Liz Durden-Myers

5 Physical Literacy as a Journey

Karen Rhys Jones and Nigel Green

6 Enabling, Enriching, and Meaningful Physical Literacy Environments

Will Roberts, Carl Woods, Jordan Wintle, and Liz Durden-Myers

7 Physical Literacy and Inclusive and Equitable Opportunities

Kyle Pushkarenko and Nicholas Gosse

8 Physical Literacy and Cultural Connection

Nigel Green and Liz Durden-Myers

9 Charting Physical Literacy Progress

Nigel Green

PART II

Physical literacy philosophical foundations

Liz Durden-Myers

10 Physical Literacy Philosophical Foundations

Liz Durden-Myers

11 Physical Literacy and Monism

Jens Birch and Pål Jåbekk

12 Physical Literacy and Existentialism

Liz Durden-Myers

13 Physical Literacy and Phenomenology

Gillian Bartle

14 Physical Literacy Interpretation(s)

Stacey Hannay

15 Physical Literacy and Human Flourishing

Liz Durden-Myers and Margaret Whitehead

16 Physical Literacy in the Era of Multiple Realities

Raymond Kim Wai Sum, Minghui Li, Siu Ming Choi, Ruisi Ma, Di Tang, Fong-Jia Wang, Wai Keung Ho, and Zheng Ye

17 Understanding Physical Literacy through Metaphorical Explanation

Kyle Pushkarenko, Elizabeth Howse, Jacob Sargent, Timothy Goudie, Julie Reardon, and Kelsey Blackwood

PART III

Physical literacy praxis

Liz Durden-Myers and Stacey Hannay

18 Physical Literacy as a Living Dialogue: Pathway through Praxis in the Pursuit of Understanding

Stacey Hannay and Liz Durden-Myers

Education

19 The Centrality of Physical Education’s Role in Nurturing Physical Literacy

Brett Wilkie, Jonathan Foulkes, and James Rudd

20 Physical Literacy Enriched Teaching Practice

Jared Ramer, Adam Woolley, and Natalie Houser

21 Physical Literacy in Children’s Early Years

Vassiliki Riga

22 Physical Activity and Physical Literacy in Early Years Education: Beyond the Grade

Natalie Weir

23 Nurturing Physical Literacy through Movement and Storytelling in the Early Years

Emma Eyre, Maria João Lagoa, and Michael Duncan

24 Physical Literacy Practice, Curriculum and Assessment

Suzanne Lundvall and Andreas Fröberg

Sport 291

25 The Specialisations, Professionalisation, Generalisation and Realisation –

What Even Is 21st Century ‘Elite’ Youth Sport?: What Even Is

21st-Century ‘Elite’ Youth Sport?

Gemma Parry

26 How the Mixed Ability Model Can Facilitate Physical Literacy: No Longer ‘Left on the Sidelines’

Martino Corazza and Jen Dyer

Health 315

27 Towards a Systematic Development of School-Based Physical Literacy Interventions: A Case Study

Dylan Blain, Thomas Curran, and Martyn Standage

28 Physical Literacy, Health, and Health Care Provision

Liz Durden-Myers, Chris Topping, and David Kennedy

Community and the built environment

29 Leisure and Recreation

Bronwyn Corrigan, Mikaeli Cavell, Meagan Marques, Adam Fitzpatrick, and Emilie Michalovic

30 A Case Study in Developing Physical Literacy in Low-Income and Underserved Communities: Doorstep Sport

Caron Walpole and Ceris Anderson

31 Physical Literacy for Older Adults: A Call for Interactive Living

Rebecca Lloyd, Stephen Smith, Catalina Belalcazar, and Colin Milner

32 Physical Literacy and Environmental Design

Trevor Smith, Andy Mytom, Natalie Houser, Janis Bilau, Dean Kriellaars, Sarah Noble, Sam Fenton, Grim Jernudd, and Tom Englén

Policy

33 Policy Influence and Enactment

Vicky Randall, Chris Mackintosh, and Liz Durden-Myers

PART IV

Physical literacy across the world

Nigel Green and Liz Durden-Myers

34 Physical Literacy in Europe: An Overarching Perspective

Johannes Carl, Kasper Salin, and Peter Elsborg

35 Physical Literacy and its Conceptual Interpretations in a German-Nordic ‘Bildung’ Context

Clemens Töpfer, Mette Kurtzhals, Beatrix Algurén, Jens Birch, Johannes Carl, Peter Elsborg, Glen Nielsen, and Peter Bentsen

36 The Danish Physical Literacy Ecosystem

Peter Bentsen, Paulina Melby, Glen Nielsen, Mette Kurtzhals, Thea Toft Amholt, Knud Ryom, Niels Grinderslev, and Peter Elsborg

37 Physical Literacy in Greece

Vassiliki Riga

38 Reflections on the Development of Physical Literacy in Ireland

and Northern Ireland

Sinead Connolly, Maeve Murray, Sarahjane Belton, Elaine Murtagh, Kyle Ferguson, Wesley O’Brien, and Hannah Goss

39 A Review of Physical Literacy Development in Portugal: From Conceptual Understanding to Policy, Research, and Training Initiatives

João Martins, Dora Carolo, Rafael Cristão, João Mota, and Marcos Onofre

40 Indian Culture and Physical Literacy Philosophical Alignment

Gita Krishna Raj and Amit Malik

41 Physical Literacy in Costa Rica

Ignacio Sabaté

42 Physical Literacy Development in Chinese Societies

Siu Ming Choi, Sitong Chen, Hsin-Heng Chen, Raymond Kim Wai Sum, and Yang Liu

Physical literacy considerations, contentions, and controversies

Liz Durden-Myers

43 Neoliberalism and Physical Literacy: A Complex Relationship Explored

Ben Franks, Mark O’Sullivan, Liz Durden-Myers, and Will Roberts

44 Postqualitative Inquiry

Gillian Bartle

45 Physical Literacy Misconceptions and Critiques

Liz Durden-Myers

Physical literacy assessment, measurement, and evaluation

46 Physical Literacy Assessment: Current Situation and Future Prospects

Kasper Salin, Johannes Carl, and Peter Elsborg

47 Assessment of Physical Literacy with Different Population Groups

Iuliia Pavlova

48 Measurement and Evaluation of Physical Literacy: A Contested Field

Brett Wilkie, Alastair Jordan, and James Rudd

Physical literacy possibilities

Liz Durden-Myers

49 Physical Literacy Future Recommendations and Opportunities

Johannes Carl, Johannes Jaunig, and Peter Elsborg

50 Physical Literacy (New) Horizons and Calls for Action

Liz Durden-Myers

51 In Conversation with Professor Margaret Whitehead: Closing Thoughts and Reflections

Margaret Whitehead and Liz Durden-Myers

Biography

Liz Durden-Myers is Professor of Physical Literacy and Physical Education at Bath Spa University and Senior Lecturer at the University of Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. She is the former Chair and a Co-Founder of the International Physical Literacy Association, as well as the Co-Founder and Managing Director of PE Scholar. A prominent author and researcher, Liz is widely recognised as a leading authority in the field of physical literacy. She completed her PhD under the supervision of Professor Margaret Whitehead, and her work continues to shape and influence global discourse on physical literacy.