Posted: October 5th, 2017

discuss ways to preserve and promote pleasure and sports participation in the U.S. today

Sport experiences for young athletes are very diverse. It is a mistake to assume that all sports are organized around the same goals and orientations, played in the same spirit, or defined in the same way. At this time, the most dominant sport form in wealthy, postindustrial nations is organized around the power and performance model. This model espouses the ideas of pushing human limits, proving excellence through hard work and dedication, playing in pain or when injured, meeting performance standards to make teams, enormous control from coaches and administrators, and high levels of competition.

At the opposite end of the spectrum is the pleasure and participation model. This model involves connections among people, a spirit of personal enjoyment and growth, personal empowerment through participation, inclusiveness, democratic decision-making, and collegial competition with competitors defined as partners.

With this in mind, and based on your sports interests and career goals, discuss ways to preserve and promote pleasure and sports participation in the U.S. today. Is this important to do in today’s society, given the current rates of obesity and sedentary lifestyles of many young people?