Marc Theeboom
Biographic Data
| ID | 266613 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Marc Theeboom |
| GIVEN NAMES | Marc |
| FAMILY NAME | Theeboom |
| SIGNATURE | THEEBOOM M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Vrije Universiteit Brussel |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-8055-3307 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 34 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 107 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 34 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1995 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 6 |
Sport for development
Several writers have commented on the similarities between S4D and youth work. In addition to mostly working with young people, there is a growing recognition that the effectiveness of such programmes depends on the nature of the social climate and social relationships which form the context for specially designed sporting activity – what is often referred to as sport plus. Such an approach, with its emphasis on positive social relationships and …
From league champion to community champion
Sport clubs traditionally focus on essential tasks such as organising local competitions, facilitating youth sport, and managing their volunteers. This primary focus can sometimes make it challenging to prioritise additional social initiatives such as developing more inclusive sports programs for disadvantaged communities. Despite the inherent difficulties, expanding the scope of sport clubs to embrace social inclusivity can significantly enhance…
Challenges to Olympic Inclusion
Despite several attempts from the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) during the past 20 years, 'wushu' (the collective noun for the Chinese martial arts) has not been included in the Olympic program. To understand why the IWUF has not been successful in achieving its Olympic ambition, this study applies a theoretical framework developed by Strittmatter and colleagues to critically analyze why, how and to what extent the IWUF has responded to t…
Re-Imagining Sport Pedagogy through Youth Engagement
Sport represents an important leisure context for promoting youth development. In particular, sport-based youth development (SBYD) initiatives have emerged to offer programming informed by theory rather than assumptions regarding the “power of sport”. While the importance of theory is well established in SBYD research, critical perspectives remain relatively underutilized. The purpose of this study was to analyze the sport pedagogy of six urban S…
Promoting the Chinese martial arts internationally
The term 'Kung Fu' is used internationally more often than its official name 'Wushu' to depict the Chinese martial arts. Yet the latter term has been promoted by the Chinese government for nearly 50 years and also used by the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) during the past three decades. This paper examines the distinction in the meaning between both terms through Stuart Hall's Representation Theory, based on 20 in-depth interviews with int…
Stuck between medals and participation
The results of our study indicated that the Sport-for-All projects of performance-oriented federations are often more superficial compared to Sport-for-All oriented federations, and that the latter federations play an important role in attaining public health targets. Moreover, policymakers should consider how they can optimize the role of the performance-oriented federations in the Sport-for-All delivery (e.g., they could function as a bridge to…
Exploring the design of a sport for employability program
Rates of young people who are neither in employment, education, or training (NEET) are fairly high in the European Union. Correspondingly, there has been a growing tendency to regard sport as a suitable tool to develop soft skills and raise NEETs' level of employability. However, if and how such sport for employability (SfE) programs are able to realize these major claims has been called into question. The purpose of the present study was, theref…
Chinese martial arts and the Olympics
The International Wushu Federation (IWUF) has been striving to get wushu (Chinese martial arts) into the Olympics for over three decades. As these efforts have not been successful to date, a study was set up to identify and evaluate the IWUF's underlying 'Olympic policy' assumptions. A theory-based evaluation approach was used which was based on data collected through 20 semi-structured interviews including senior IWUF officials, coaches, nationa…
Social change through an urban sport for development initiative? Investigating critical pedagogy through the voices of young people
This article explores the pedagogy of an urban Sport for Development (SfD) initiative in Belgium through the voices of young people. We draw on the critical pedagogy of Paulo Freire, and use qualitative research methods (i.e. observations, informal conversations, in-depth interviews and sharing circles) over a three-year period, to analyse the initiative’s actual pedagogical practice with key Freirean concepts (i.e. ‘banking education’, ‘dialogue…
Urban Sport-for-Development Initiatives and Young People in Socially Vulnerable Situations
Critical scholars have indicated that the assumptions underlying most sport-for-development (SFD) initiatives tend to align with a ‘deficit model’ of youth: young people from disadvantaged areas are uniformly deficient and in need of development, which can be achieved through sport (Coakley, 2011; Coalter, 2013). In this article, we investigated these assumptions within six urban SFD initiatives that work with young people in socially vulnerable …
Peer- and Coach-Created Motivational Climates in Youth Sport
The relationship between coach- and peer-created motivational climates and Positive Youth Development is largely unexplored. This is especially true for the latter and in particular with regard to disadvantaged girls. The present study was designed to examine the relationships between perceived coach- and peer-created climates and reported developmental gains among disadvantaged girls participating in sports programmes, and to determine whether t…
Conditions for Successfully Increasing Disadvantaged Adolescents’ Engagement in and Development through Volunteering in Community Sport
A considerable number of adolescents in Western societies live in socially vulnerable situations. Approaches to improve this situation ultimately aim to make institutional changes through a focus on individual development. With regard to the latter, there have been high expectations regarding sport volunteering’s contribution to human capital development. Nevertheless, little understanding of the underlying conditions for, and possible outcomes o…
Adolescent girls’ experiences of urban dance programmes
A study on urban dance initiatives for disadvantaged girls in Flanders (Belgium) was set up, as there is little insight into the underlying social mechanisms that allow developmental benefits to occur for this group. A fieldwork approach, including observations at three dance sites and interviews with 25 participants, resulted in four main findings. First, the access to the programmes is a necessary but not a sufficient condition to foster develo…
What Makes a Difference for Disadvantaged Girls? Investigating the Interplay between Group Composition and Positive Youth Development in Sport
It has been suggested that group composition can influence the experiences of individual group members in social programmes (Weiss, 1998). The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between peer group composition in sports programmes and positive youth development (PYD) in disadvantaged girls, as well as to determine whether it was moderated by personal characteristics. Two hundred young women aged between 10 and 24 complete…
Introduction to the Special Issue “Sport for Social Inclusion
“Sport for Social Inclusion: Critical Analyses and Future Challenges” brings together a unique collection of papers on the subject of sport and social inclusion. The special issue can be divided into three major parts. The first part consists of three papers tacking on a broad perspective on sport and social exclusion, with specific attention to austerity policies, sport-for-change and exclusion in youth sports. The second part of the special iss…
Socially Vulnerable Youth and Volunteering in Sports
A considerable number of young Europeans live or risk ending up in socially vulnerable situations. Different social channels (e.g., education, on the job training, leisure) exist through which youths can enhance their chances to improve their social position. There is a growing belief that sports in particular can help personal and social development of socially vulnerable youths. Nevertheless, there is little understanding of the mechanisms thro…
Wushu belongs to the world’. But the gold goes to China
Since the mid-1980s, China has been promoting wushu (also known as kung fu) as an international competitive sport towards Olympic recognition. But despite the efforts of the International Wushu Federation, to date, wushu has not entered the Olympics. Data were collected of countries’ medal winning performances at the World Wushu Championships since 1991. The findings of this study clearly showed China’s unchanged dominant position, thereby making…
The Organization and Regulation of Full Contact Martial Arts
To date, martial arts involvement is often described in controversial terms. While some studies report increased anti-social behavior as a result of martial arts involvement, other findings refer to a more positive social and personal development. This paradox has resulted in an ambiguous public discourse on their value and legitimacy as socially accepted sports, often leading to a dichotomization between “good” and “bad” styles of martial arts. …
How to obtain more insight into the true nature of outcomes of youth martial arts practice
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the processes that produce the effects found in studies of participation by young people in martial arts. Design/methodology/approach – A review of published studies. Findings – Studies of the developmental outcomes of young people participating in martial arts produce conflicting results. While some studies refer to increased antisocial behaviour, others indicate positive development…
Socially vulnerable young people in Flemish sports clubs
Sport appears to present a powerful tool for engaging socially vulnerable youth in an organised context, which offers an opportunity to work with them. However, we have little understanding regarding participation of socially vulnerable young people in the ‘traditional’ sport sector (i.e. sports clubs). Nor do we have sufficient insights into how vulnerable young people experience their participation in sports clubs and how they best feel support…
Youth Sport
Youth is defined in this text as youngsters between 6 and 18 years old. Sport means all sport activities practiced outside the physical education curriculum. Consequently, school sport as extra‐curricular activity is also included
Sports-based interventions for socially vulnerable youth
In this paper, we critically examine the burgeoning scientific discourse about sports-based interventions for socially vulnerable or disadvantaged youth from a socio-pedagogical perspective. It is argued that the call for more well-defined sports-based social interventions with easier-to-follow outcomes may be at odds with the open-ended philosophy that is viewed as a fundamental principle when engaging with socially vulnerable youth in a leisure…
Martial arts and youth
To date, contrasting results are found regarding the presumed effects of martial arts involvement among youth, ranging from very positive to very negative. The variations in these findings could possibly be due to the fact that most authors regarded martial arts as a unitary phenomenon and were primarily focused on measuring outcomes. Research focusing on the underlying conditions that give rise to these presumed effects is sorely lacking. In thi…
The potential of sports-based social interventions for vulnerable youth
Sports have long been viewed as an opportunity to actively engage young people in a leisure context and not just in terms of participation in sports activities, but across a range of issues including education, employment and training, community leadership and healthy lifestyles. Although there are some indications that when working towards broader outcomes with socially vulnerable youth a specific methodology is required, it remains unclear what…
Experiences of children in martial arts
Contrasting images seem to appear regarding the effect of martial arts involvement in general and with regard to youth in particular. On the one hand, there are several reports referring to medical and moral concerns with a focus on assumed negative effects to personal and social well-being. On the other hand, there is a common belief that martial arts practice is associated with positive socio-psychological outcomes. To date, conclusive evidence…
The potential of sports-based social interventions for vulnerable youth
Sports have long been viewed as an opportunity to actively engage young people in a leisure context and not just in terms of participation in sports activities, but across a range of issues including education, employment and training, community leadership and healthy lifestyles. Although there are some indications that when working towards broader outcomes with socially vulnerable youth a specific methodology is required, it remains unclear what…
Implications of Islam on Muslim Girls' Sport Participation in Western Europe. Literature Review and Policy Recommendations for Sport Promotion
To date, limited attention has been paid to the relationship of young female Muslims in Western Europe and sport. However as the present review will reveal, this relationship can be described as problematic and therefore needs specific attention. On the one hand, research has indicated that most of these girls have a positive attitude towards sport. While on the other hand, their actual level of sport participation is very low in comparison to ot…
Social change through an urban sport for development initiative? Investigating critical pedagogy through the voices of young people
This article explores the pedagogy of an urban Sport for Development (SfD) initiative in Belgium through the voices of young people. We draw on the critical pedagogy of Paulo Freire, and use qualitative research methods (i.e. observations, informal conversations, in-depth interviews and sharing circles) over a three-year period, to analyse the initiative’s actual pedagogical practice with key Freirean concepts (i.e. ‘banking education’, ‘dialogue…
Sports-based interventions for socially vulnerable youth
In this paper, we critically examine the burgeoning scientific discourse about sports-based interventions for socially vulnerable or disadvantaged youth from a socio-pedagogical perspective. It is argued that the call for more well-defined sports-based social interventions with easier-to-follow outcomes may be at odds with the open-ended philosophy that is viewed as a fundamental principle when engaging with socially vulnerable youth in a leisure…
Wushu belongs to the world’. But the gold goes to China
Since the mid-1980s, China has been promoting wushu (also known as kung fu) as an international competitive sport towards Olympic recognition. But despite the efforts of the International Wushu Federation, to date, wushu has not entered the Olympics. Data were collected of countries’ medal winning performances at the World Wushu Championships since 1991. The findings of this study clearly showed China’s unchanged dominant position, thereby making…
Martial arts and socially vulnerable youth. An analysis of Flemish initiatives
Notwithstanding the lack of empirical support for its positive socio-psychological effects, numerous educators and welfare workers make use of martial arts in their work with socially vulnerable youth. Using qualitative methodology, the aims, approaches and personal experiences were analysed of teachers and co-ordinators involved in specific martial arts programmes (n=12) for disadvantaged youth in Flanders (Belgium). Results revealed that althou…
An Analysis of the Development of Wushu
Wushu, the collective phrase for the Chinese martial arts, is one of the most prominent traditional sports in China. Many other Asian martial arts (e.g. judo, karate) have originated from it. Apart from its wide variety of fighting techniques, wushu incorporates ancient Chinese philosophical concepts and religious elements. This paper analyses some of the prominent changes that have occurred in the form, content and functions of wushu throughout …
Chinese martial arts and the Olympics
The International Wushu Federation (IWUF) has been striving to get wushu (Chinese martial arts) into the Olympics for over three decades. As these efforts have not been successful to date, a study was set up to identify and evaluate the IWUF's underlying 'Olympic policy' assumptions. A theory-based evaluation approach was used which was based on data collected through 20 semi-structured interviews including senior IWUF officials, coaches, nationa…
Experiences of children in martial arts
Contrasting images seem to appear regarding the effect of martial arts involvement in general and with regard to youth in particular. On the one hand, there are several reports referring to medical and moral concerns with a focus on assumed negative effects to personal and social well-being. On the other hand, there is a common belief that martial arts practice is associated with positive socio-psychological outcomes. To date, conclusive evidence…
Socially vulnerable young people in Flemish sports clubs
Sport appears to present a powerful tool for engaging socially vulnerable youth in an organised context, which offers an opportunity to work with them. However, we have little understanding regarding participation of socially vulnerable young people in the ‘traditional’ sport sector (i.e. sports clubs). Nor do we have sufficient insights into how vulnerable young people experience their participation in sports clubs and how they best feel support…
Exploring the design of a sport for employability program
Rates of young people who are neither in employment, education, or training (NEET) are fairly high in the European Union. Correspondingly, there has been a growing tendency to regard sport as a suitable tool to develop soft skills and raise NEETs' level of employability. However, if and how such sport for employability (SfE) programs are able to realize these major claims has been called into question. The purpose of the present study was, theref…
Urban Sport-for-Development Initiatives and Young People in Socially Vulnerable Situations
Critical scholars have indicated that the assumptions underlying most sport-for-development (SFD) initiatives tend to align with a ‘deficit model’ of youth: young people from disadvantaged areas are uniformly deficient and in need of development, which can be achieved through sport (Coakley, 2011; Coalter, 2013). In this article, we investigated these assumptions within six urban SFD initiatives that work with young people in socially vulnerable …
Conditions for Successfully Increasing Disadvantaged Adolescents’ Engagement in and Development through Volunteering in Community Sport
A considerable number of adolescents in Western societies live in socially vulnerable situations. Approaches to improve this situation ultimately aim to make institutional changes through a focus on individual development. With regard to the latter, there have been high expectations regarding sport volunteering’s contribution to human capital development. Nevertheless, little understanding of the underlying conditions for, and possible outcomes o…
Adolescent girls’ experiences of urban dance programmes
A study on urban dance initiatives for disadvantaged girls in Flanders (Belgium) was set up, as there is little insight into the underlying social mechanisms that allow developmental benefits to occur for this group. A fieldwork approach, including observations at three dance sites and interviews with 25 participants, resulted in four main findings. First, the access to the programmes is a necessary but not a sufficient condition to foster develo…
Promoting the Chinese martial arts internationally
The term 'Kung Fu' is used internationally more often than its official name 'Wushu' to depict the Chinese martial arts. Yet the latter term has been promoted by the Chinese government for nearly 50 years and also used by the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) during the past three decades. This paper examines the distinction in the meaning between both terms through Stuart Hall's Representation Theory, based on 20 in-depth interviews with int…
Peer- and Coach-Created Motivational Climates in Youth Sport
The relationship between coach- and peer-created motivational climates and Positive Youth Development is largely unexplored. This is especially true for the latter and in particular with regard to disadvantaged girls. The present study was designed to examine the relationships between perceived coach- and peer-created climates and reported developmental gains among disadvantaged girls participating in sports programmes, and to determine whether t…
Introduction to the Special Issue “Sport for Social Inclusion
“Sport for Social Inclusion: Critical Analyses and Future Challenges” brings together a unique collection of papers on the subject of sport and social inclusion. The special issue can be divided into three major parts. The first part consists of three papers tacking on a broad perspective on sport and social exclusion, with specific attention to austerity policies, sport-for-change and exclusion in youth sports. The second part of the special iss…
How to obtain more insight into the true nature of outcomes of youth martial arts practice
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the processes that produce the effects found in studies of participation by young people in martial arts. Design/methodology/approach – A review of published studies. Findings – Studies of the developmental outcomes of young people participating in martial arts produce conflicting results. While some studies refer to increased antisocial behaviour, others indicate positive development…
The Quality of School Physical Education in Flemish Secondary Schools
In this article the importance of a quality care system within school physical education is emphasized. Taking into account the fact that education is a critical part of human development and a government concern, striving towards an optimization of the quantity and quality requirements of education can be regarded as a necessity. This applies as much to the school physical education subject as to education generally. Based on the results of in-d…
The Role of Contextual Factors in Youth Participation in Organized Sport
The participation of youth in organized sport can be regarded as an established aspect of society. The present article reflects on organized youth sport in Flanders – a setting which can be regarded as typical of the western European context. The different sectors of the Flemish organizational youth sport network, in which sport can be regarded as an ‘aim’ or as a ‘means’, are described in terms of structural characteristics and participatory tre…
Towards a Sound Youth Sports Policy in the Club
Towards a Sound Youth Sports Policy in the Club
Implications of Islam on Muslim Girls' Sport Participation in Western Europe. Literature Review and Policy Recommendations for Sport Promotion
To date, limited attention has been paid to the relationship of young female Muslims in Western Europe and sport. However as the present review will reveal, this relationship can be described as problematic and therefore needs specific attention. On the one hand, research has indicated that most of these girls have a positive attitude towards sport. While on the other hand, their actual level of sport participation is very low in comparison to ot…
An Analysis of the Development of Wushu
Wushu, the collective phrase for the Chinese martial arts, is one of the most prominent traditional sports in China. Many other Asian martial arts (e.g. judo, karate) have originated from it. Apart from its wide variety of fighting techniques, wushu incorporates ancient Chinese philosophical concepts and religious elements. This paper analyses some of the prominent changes that have occurred in the form, content and functions of wushu throughout …
Youth and Organized Sport in Flanders
Schools and clubs in Flanders have tended to have a proactive policy toward organized sport for youth. Nevertheless, a review of organized sport in clubs and schools revealed that the needs of youth participants have not always been catered for. This article offers some suggestions regarding how to enhance the benefits that Flemish youth can derive from participating in organized sport
The Role of Contextual Factors in Youth Participation in Organized Sport
The participation of youth in organized sport can be regarded as an established aspect of society. The present article reflects on organized youth sport in Flanders – a setting which can be regarded as typical of the western European context. The different sectors of the Flemish organizational youth sport network, in which sport can be regarded as an ‘aim’ or as a ‘means’, are described in terms of structural characteristics and participatory tre…
The Quality of School Physical Education in Flemish Secondary Schools
In this article the importance of a quality care system within school physical education is emphasized. Taking into account the fact that education is a critical part of human development and a government concern, striving towards an optimization of the quantity and quality requirements of education can be regarded as a necessity. This applies as much to the school physical education subject as to education generally. Based on the results of in-d…
The social quality of school physical education in Flanders
This paper reports the findings of a qualitative study evaluating the social quality of school physical education in Flanders. Drawing on a nine-question survey, it explores the expectations and experiences of 124 respondents from different social, educational and workforce agencies and organisations with regard to important objectives of high quality school physical education. It also considers the overlap between the expectations of the researc…
Youth Sport
Youth is defined for the purposes of this discussion as youngsters between 6 and 18 years. Sport means all sport activities practiced outside the physical education curriculum. Consequently, school sport as extra‐curricular activity is also included
Martial arts and socially vulnerable youth. An analysis of Flemish initiatives
Notwithstanding the lack of empirical support for its positive socio-psychological effects, numerous educators and welfare workers make use of martial arts in their work with socially vulnerable youth. Using qualitative methodology, the aims, approaches and personal experiences were analysed of teachers and co-ordinators involved in specific martial arts programmes (n=12) for disadvantaged youth in Flanders (Belgium). Results revealed that althou…
Experiences of children in martial arts
Contrasting images seem to appear regarding the effect of martial arts involvement in general and with regard to youth in particular. On the one hand, there are several reports referring to medical and moral concerns with a focus on assumed negative effects to personal and social well-being. On the other hand, there is a common belief that martial arts practice is associated with positive socio-psychological outcomes. To date, conclusive evidence…
Martial arts and youth
To date, contrasting results are found regarding the presumed effects of martial arts involvement among youth, ranging from very positive to very negative. The variations in these findings could possibly be due to the fact that most authors regarded martial arts as a unitary phenomenon and were primarily focused on measuring outcomes. Research focusing on the underlying conditions that give rise to these presumed effects is sorely lacking. In thi…
The potential of sports-based social interventions for vulnerable youth
Sports have long been viewed as an opportunity to actively engage young people in a leisure context and not just in terms of participation in sports activities, but across a range of issues including education, employment and training, community leadership and healthy lifestyles. Although there are some indications that when working towards broader outcomes with socially vulnerable youth a specific methodology is required, it remains unclear what…
How to obtain more insight into the true nature of outcomes of youth martial arts practice
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the processes that produce the effects found in studies of participation by young people in martial arts. Design/methodology/approach – A review of published studies. Findings – Studies of the developmental outcomes of young people participating in martial arts produce conflicting results. While some studies refer to increased antisocial behaviour, others indicate positive development…
Socially vulnerable young people in Flemish sports clubs
Sport appears to present a powerful tool for engaging socially vulnerable youth in an organised context, which offers an opportunity to work with them. However, we have little understanding regarding participation of socially vulnerable young people in the ‘traditional’ sport sector (i.e. sports clubs). Nor do we have sufficient insights into how vulnerable young people experience their participation in sports clubs and how they best feel support…
Youth Sport
Youth is defined in this text as youngsters between 6 and 18 years old. Sport means all sport activities practiced outside the physical education curriculum. Consequently, school sport as extra‐curricular activity is also included
Sports-based interventions for socially vulnerable youth
In this paper, we critically examine the burgeoning scientific discourse about sports-based interventions for socially vulnerable or disadvantaged youth from a socio-pedagogical perspective. It is argued that the call for more well-defined sports-based social interventions with easier-to-follow outcomes may be at odds with the open-ended philosophy that is viewed as a fundamental principle when engaging with socially vulnerable youth in a leisure…
The Organization and Regulation of Full Contact Martial Arts
To date, martial arts involvement is often described in controversial terms. While some studies report increased anti-social behavior as a result of martial arts involvement, other findings refer to a more positive social and personal development. This paradox has resulted in an ambiguous public discourse on their value and legitimacy as socially accepted sports, often leading to a dichotomization between “good” and “bad” styles of martial arts. …
What Makes a Difference for Disadvantaged Girls? Investigating the Interplay between Group Composition and Positive Youth Development in Sport
It has been suggested that group composition can influence the experiences of individual group members in social programmes (Weiss, 1998). The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between peer group composition in sports programmes and positive youth development (PYD) in disadvantaged girls, as well as to determine whether it was moderated by personal characteristics. Two hundred young women aged between 10 and 24 complete…
Introduction to the Special Issue “Sport for Social Inclusion
“Sport for Social Inclusion: Critical Analyses and Future Challenges” brings together a unique collection of papers on the subject of sport and social inclusion. The special issue can be divided into three major parts. The first part consists of three papers tacking on a broad perspective on sport and social exclusion, with specific attention to austerity policies, sport-for-change and exclusion in youth sports. The second part of the special iss…
Socially Vulnerable Youth and Volunteering in Sports
A considerable number of young Europeans live or risk ending up in socially vulnerable situations. Different social channels (e.g., education, on the job training, leisure) exist through which youths can enhance their chances to improve their social position. There is a growing belief that sports in particular can help personal and social development of socially vulnerable youths. Nevertheless, there is little understanding of the mechanisms thro…
Wushu belongs to the world’. But the gold goes to China
Since the mid-1980s, China has been promoting wushu (also known as kung fu) as an international competitive sport towards Olympic recognition. But despite the efforts of the International Wushu Federation, to date, wushu has not entered the Olympics. Data were collected of countries’ medal winning performances at the World Wushu Championships since 1991. The findings of this study clearly showed China’s unchanged dominant position, thereby making…
Urban Sport-for-Development Initiatives and Young People in Socially Vulnerable Situations
Critical scholars have indicated that the assumptions underlying most sport-for-development (SFD) initiatives tend to align with a ‘deficit model’ of youth: young people from disadvantaged areas are uniformly deficient and in need of development, which can be achieved through sport (Coakley, 2011; Coalter, 2013). In this article, we investigated these assumptions within six urban SFD initiatives that work with young people in socially vulnerable …
Peer- and Coach-Created Motivational Climates in Youth Sport
The relationship between coach- and peer-created motivational climates and Positive Youth Development is largely unexplored. This is especially true for the latter and in particular with regard to disadvantaged girls. The present study was designed to examine the relationships between perceived coach- and peer-created climates and reported developmental gains among disadvantaged girls participating in sports programmes, and to determine whether t…
Conditions for Successfully Increasing Disadvantaged Adolescents’ Engagement in and Development through Volunteering in Community Sport
A considerable number of adolescents in Western societies live in socially vulnerable situations. Approaches to improve this situation ultimately aim to make institutional changes through a focus on individual development. With regard to the latter, there have been high expectations regarding sport volunteering’s contribution to human capital development. Nevertheless, little understanding of the underlying conditions for, and possible outcomes o…
Adolescent girls’ experiences of urban dance programmes
A study on urban dance initiatives for disadvantaged girls in Flanders (Belgium) was set up, as there is little insight into the underlying social mechanisms that allow developmental benefits to occur for this group. A fieldwork approach, including observations at three dance sites and interviews with 25 participants, resulted in four main findings. First, the access to the programmes is a necessary but not a sufficient condition to foster develo…
Political science (26 works) · Psychology (25 works) · Sociology (25 works) · Physical Education and Pedagogy (19 works) · Sport and Mega-Event Impacts (19 works) · Public relations (15 works) · Youth Development and Social Support (15 works) · Social Psychology (13 works) · Social Psychology (12 works) · Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports (11 works)