Exploration of Federal Sport Policy on Youth Elite Sport in Canada: A case study of Gymnastics Canada Gymnastique

A case study of Gymnastics Canada Gymnastique aided in creating a contemporary framework for youth sport policy development. Youth involved in elite sport are in a subsidiary position to those who control the sport environment, and therefore are in need of certain levels of protection. High performance youth athletes may be subject to numerous problems such as competitive anxiety, disrupted family life, and excessive physiological and psychological stress. In order to explore these issues in relation to federal sport policy, the following sub-problems were identified: (a) What are the process(es), legitimation(s) (rationale) and attribution(s) (strategies for action) of federal government sport policies (1961--2000) in relation to youth, elite athletes, and youth elite athletes? (b) What structure currently exists within Gymnastics Canada Gymnastique (GCG) in relation to youth elite athletes? (c) What issues are relevant to those affected by policy (i.e., coaches and athletes)? (d) How are the proposed process(es), emerging legitimation(s), and attribution(s) for the development of federal sport policies pertaining to youth elite athletes reflective of academic/activist approaches concerning youth sport

The Influence of the Social Determinants of Health on Para-sports Involvement Throughout the Caribbean and Americas

As the number of individuals with a disability grows worldwide, the Paralympic Games and para-sports have seen a growth in participation (WHO, 2011). However, international sporting competitions including the Paralympic Games remain dominated by developed countries (Andreff, 2001). In the last Paralympic Games, the USA, Canada, and Brazil made up nearly 70% of participants from the North and South American region with 17 of the 28 committees sending five or less participants (Maleske & Sant, 2020). The present study investigates the social and cultural determinants in the Caribbean and Americas of para-sport participation in the region and their relation to para-sport involvement. This paper presents a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with regional committee executives and athletes to better understand how social and health determinants impact para-sport involvement. Analysis indicated there are widespread challenges to involvement in sport experienced in the Caribbean and America’s region. These include: minimal financial support and capacity; limited opportunity within educational systems; a general unfamiliarity with para-sport that is combined with a mainstream negative perception of disability; and several structural barriers reducing accessibility. These findings mirror existing literature and stress the complex combination of social and cultural factors that pose challenges to the establishment of and engagement in para-sport. Future research and program initiatives that aim to assist the region’s para-sport movement must look beyond ordinary monetary stimulus and consider contextualized support which may involve raising awareness, improving administrative structures, and promoting grassroots development of athletes and other human resources

Evaluating Sport Development Outcomes: The Case of a Medium Sized International Sport Event

Research question: This study evaluates sport development outcomes of a medium-sized, one-off, international sport event, while also exploring any strategies and tactics that were implemented with the intention to increase participation or other sport development outcomes. The event under investigation is the 2005 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships. Research method: Retrospective perceptions of sport development outcomes were explored using event documents, 21 semistructured interviews with key stakeholders, and media coverage of the event. Results and Findings: The coaching clinic and the new facility were the only two intended tactics expected to intentionally trigger increases in sport participation and development. The sport facility seemed to have been successful, the coaching clinic was not. All other perceived outcomes, both positive and negative were unintended, and their underlying processes are unclear. Partnerships and relationships were established, but were not activated to serve sport development. It was assumed that ‘awareness,’ the new facility, and positive media coverage would automatically attract new participants. There is some evidence to support the ‘demonstration effect’ for those already involved in the sport, but not for new sport participation. A number of missed opportunities to build sport participation were retrospectively identified. Participation effects in the absence of leveraging are likely to be negligible. Implications: Formulation and implementation of strategies and tactics, and measurements need to be put into place from the outset of an event. This will enable the efficacy of strategies and tactics to be benchmarked and assessed. Future research should focus on the underlying processes, rather than just the impacts and outcomes

Leveraging sport events for participation

It is often claimed that sport events can stimulate interest and consequent participation in sport. The data on this matter are inconclusive. It is known, however, that sport participation is not being raised merely by the fact that an event is being hosted, but rather on the ways that an event is used to render desired effects (i.e., event leveraging). The purpose of this research project was to examine how medium sized sport events can be used to stimulate sport participation in host communities. Using a three-phased study, findings show that: (a) sport events are unlikely in-and-of themselves to generate increases in sport participation; (b) there are nonetheless opportunities to use events to generate sport participation if the requisite strategies and tactics are put into place; (c) sport organizations at the local level lack the necessary skills and resources to take advantage of a locally hosted event to build participation in their sport; (d) local sport organizations have a set of standard operating procedures for recruitment and retention which tend to support a status quo; and (e) an event can catalyze the interest of local sport organization administrators in the possibilities for a better effort at building their sport

Leveraging Sport Events for Sport Development

It is often claimed that sport events can stimulate interest and consequent participation in sport. The data on this matter are inconclusive. It is known, however, that sport participation is not being raised merely by the fact that an event is being hosted, but rather on the ways that an event is used to render desired effects (i.e., event leveraging). The purpose of this research project was to examine how medium sized sport events can be used to stimulate sport participation in host communities. Using a three-phased study, findings show that: (a) sport events are unlikely in-and-of themselves to generate increases in sport participation; (b) there are nonetheless opportunities to use events to generate sport participation if the requisite strategies and tactics are put into place; (c) sport organizations at the local level lack the necessary skills and resources to take advantage of a locally hosted event to build participation in their sport; (d) local sport organizations have a set of standard operating procedures for recruitment and retention which tend to support a status quo; and (e) an event can catalyze the interest of local sport organization administrators in the possibilities for a better effort at building their sport

Theorizing Community for Sport Management Research and Practice

Community is a context for much research in sport, sport management, and sport policy, yet relatively few authors explicitly articulate the theoretical frameworks with which they interrogate the concept. In this paper, we draw from communitarian theory and politics in order to contribute to a robust discussion and conceptualization of community in and for sport management research and practice. We provide a synthesis of current sport management and related research in order to highlight contemporary theoretical and methodological approaches to studying community. We distinguish between community as a context, as an outcome, as a site for struggle or resistance, as well as a form of regulation or social control. We then advance a critical communitarian agenda and consider the practical implications and considerations for research and practice. This paper synthesizes current research and establishes a foundation upon which sport management scholars and practitioners might critically reflect on community and deliberatively articulate its implications in both future research and practice.Brock Library Open Access Publishing Fun