Physical education, youth sport and lifelong participation: the importance of early learning experiences

David Kirk

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

175 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The PESSCLS strategy for physical education and youth sport in England has received an unprecedented level of funding from the Blair government during its term in office. In this article, it is proposed that there are structural problems with the delivery of physical education and school sport in England that the PESSCLS strategy and associated policies such as Game Plan may not have accounted for. It is argued these problems become evident through a review of research on the importance of early learning experiences for lifelong participation in physical activity. In addition, the impact of perceptions of competency on young people's motivation to participate is discussed, prior to exploring the influence of gender, socio-economic status and sociodemographic factors on participation. Further evidence is reviewed that suggests secondary school physical education programmes have in their traditional form been ineffective in promoting lifelong physical activities. The article concludes with the identification of some alternatives to the traditional approach to PE and youth sport that could enrich some of the PESSCLS initiatives.
LanguageEnglish
Pages239-255
Number of pages17
JournalEuropean Physical Education Review
Volume11
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2005

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youth sports
Physical Education and Training
physical education
Learning
England
participation
school sports
learning
structural problem
sociodemographic factors
experience
Sports
Motivation
secondary school
funding
Economics
gender
Research
evidence
economics

Keywords

  • physical education
  • early learning experiences
  • educational reform
  • lifelong participation
  • youth sport

Cite this

Kirk, David. / Physical education, youth sport and lifelong participation : the importance of early learning experiences. In: European Physical Education Review. 2005 ; Vol. 11, No. 3. pp. 239-255.
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Kirk, D 2005, 'Physical education, youth sport and lifelong participation: the importance of early learning experiences' European Physical Education Review, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 239-255. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X05056649

Physical education, youth sport and lifelong participation : the importance of early learning experiences. / Kirk, David.

In: European Physical Education Review, Vol. 11, No. 3, 10.2005, p. 239-255.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

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AB - The PESSCLS strategy for physical education and youth sport in England has received an unprecedented level of funding from the Blair government during its term in office. In this article, it is proposed that there are structural problems with the delivery of physical education and school sport in England that the PESSCLS strategy and associated policies such as Game Plan may not have accounted for. It is argued these problems become evident through a review of research on the importance of early learning experiences for lifelong participation in physical activity. In addition, the impact of perceptions of competency on young people's motivation to participate is discussed, prior to exploring the influence of gender, socio-economic status and sociodemographic factors on participation. Further evidence is reviewed that suggests secondary school physical education programmes have in their traditional form been ineffective in promoting lifelong physical activities. The article concludes with the identification of some alternatives to the traditional approach to PE and youth sport that could enrich some of the PESSCLS initiatives.

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Kirk D. Physical education, youth sport and lifelong participation: the importance of early learning experiences. European Physical Education Review. 2005 Oct;11(3):239-255. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X05056649

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