An exploration of life skill development through sport in three international high schools

Abstract

The positive relationship between adolescents’ sport participation and life skill development is widely acknowledged by various researchers. However, minimal research has explored the role of life skill development through school-based sport participation, specifically within international settings. In light of this consideration, this study examined the life skills developed through sport participation at three international high schools. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with high school student-athletes (n = 29). Participants’ responses were analysed using a constructivist approach. Results indicated that: (1) participants used sport as a means of social, emotional, and academic self-improvement, and (2) sport helped participants develop an ability to work with others. Most participants identified how they used life skills within the sport environment and the deliberate strategies they used to transfer them to other domains, while few participants indicated that their coaches used intentional strategies to facilitate life skill transfer from the sport environment to other domains.

Keywords:

• sport
• life skills
• late adolescence
• school-based
• international