Systematic Reviews of Sport for Development Literature: Managerial and Policy Implications

Abstract

This paper reports findings of two systematic reviews of Sport for Development (SfD) evidence, with a particular focus on managerial and policy implications. We suggest that the outcomes of the systematic reviews yield significant insights regarding the current state of the SfD literature, particularly with respect to the diversity of interventions, the importance of scale and context, and the general paucity of rigorous, empirical analyses. In turn, we propose that several managerial and policy implications and recommendations can be gleaned from these assessments, including the importance of an ongoing and even renewed commitment to theory and context, and critical considerations of the structure of the SfD field itself. We also use the results of the reviews to make suggestions about the importance of future research in this area, as well as the kind of research that is needed, in both policy and programming terms.

促进体育文献发展的系统评述：管理和政策含义

本文报告了对体育促进发展（SfD）发现的两次系统评价结果, 重点关注管理和政策对其影响。我们认为, 系统评价的结果, 对SfD文献的当前状态产生重要的影响, 特别是关于干预的多样性, 规模和背景的重要性, 普遍缺乏严格的实证。反过来, 应该从这些评估中收集一些管理和政策上的建议, 包括应承诺, 对理论和背景进行延续, 甚至更新, 此点尤为重要。也应认真考虑SfD领域的本身结构。我们还使用评审结果, 就政策和计划的未来研究在该领域所起的重要作用, 以及该领域所需的研究类型提出建议。

Keywords:

• Peace
• social
• program
• physical activity
• youth

关键词:

• 和平；社会；项目；身体活动；青年

Acknowledgment

We thank the organizations and scholars who assisted in the identification and procurement of published and unpublished documents.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 An important exception is Cronin’s (2011) mapping of Sport for Development research, funded by Comic Relief, which also included grey literature.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA.

Notes on contributors

Simon C. Darnell

Simon C. Darnell (Ph.D., University of Toronto, Canada) is an Assistant Professor in Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at University of Toronto, Canada. Dr. Darnell’s research explores the politics and history of sport in international development and peace building efforts, the development implications of sports mega-events, and the place of environmental sustainabiltiy within sport for developemnt.

Meredith A. Whitley

Meredith A. Whitley (Ph.D., Michigan State University, US) is an Associate Professor in Department of Health & Sport Sciences at Adelphi University, US. Dr. Whitley’s research explores the complex and multi-faceted roles of sport and sport for development programs in the lives of youth from under-resourced communities, along with the interrelated systems impacting youth and community development.

Martin Camiré

Martin Camiré (Ph.D., University of Ottawa, Canada) is an Associate Professor in School of Human Kinetics at University of Ottawa, Canada. Dr. Camiré is interested in examining how positive youth development can be facilitated in the context of sport. Furthermore, Dr. Camiré studies the role played by coaches in facilitating the development and transfer of life skills.

William V. Massey

William V. Massey (PhD, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Assistant Professor, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University. Dr. Massey’s research interests include the examination of sport and play on youth development. Dr. Massey’s research lab is currently funded to study the role of school-recess in child development.

Lindsey C. Blom

Lindsey C. Blom (Ed.D, West Virginia University, US) is an Associate Professor in School of Kinesiology at Ball State University, US. Dr. Blom’s research focuses on positive youth development through sport and using sport to promote peace at the individual, community, and international levels. She focuses on maximizing the benefits of sport participation through a mastery and cooperative approach fostered by trained coaches and supportive parents, emphasizing a holistic, long-term athletic development model.

Megan Chawansky

Megan Chawansky (Ph.D., The Ohio State University, US) is an Assistant Professor of Sport Management in Department of Health and Sport Sciences at Otterbein University, US. Dr. Chawansky's research interests include girls' and women's participation in SDP and the management of SDP projects.

Shawn Forde

Shawn Forde (Ph.D. ABD, University of British Columbia, Canada) is a doctoral student in School of Human Kinetics at University of British Columbia, Canada. Mr. Forde studies the sociology of sport for development, and the place of qualitiative and ethnographic methodologies in the study of sport for development.

Laura Hayden

Laura A. Hayden (Ed.D., Boston University, US) is an Associate Professor and Department Chair in Counseling and School Psychology Department at University of Massachusetts Boston, US. Dr. Hayden's research shows a commitment to the Boston urban community and larger global community, focusing primarily on positive youth development through sport and physical activity. She explores the relationship between physical activity and life skill development among at risk youth, with attention on understanding how youth develop culturally relevant skills that contribute to their success within their community. She examines how school-based counselors can incorporate physical activity into their work to best serve youth, while exploring the strength of interdisciplinary team approaches to student development, highlighting the importance of the counselor/athletic coach relationship.