Holt, N. N., Sehn, Z. L., Spence, J. C., Newton, A. S., & Ball, G. D. (2012). Physical education and sport programs at an inner city school: exploring possibilities for positive youth development. Physical Education & Sport Pedagogy, 17(1), 97-113. doi:10.1080/17408989.2010.548062
This case study examined school staff members’ and children’s perceptions of school PE, intramural sports, and sport teams with a view to establish factors that facilitated or impeded positive youth development. Findings showed that factors that facilitated or impeded PYD varied across different contexts. In PE, the importance of a specialist PE teacher and establishing clear boundaries during lessons while providing children with perceptions of choice were important. I chose to use this resource because school-based recreation/physical programs are an important place for youth development work to take place, especially for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds who do not always have the opportunity to participate in programs outside of school.
Significant quote: “PYD is an ‘umbrella’ term that refers to strength-based and asset-building approaches to developmental research in which youth are viewed as ‘resources to be developed’ rather than ‘problems to be solved.’ Broadly then, PYD is about promoting youth engagement in prosocial behaviours and avoidance of health-compromising behaviours and future jeopardizing behaviours.”