Issue Date
2014-05-05Subjects
lifestyle sportsyouth
policy
countryside
physical activity
Subject Categories::F810 Environmental Geography
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Young people have been identified as a key target group for whom participation in sport and physical activity could have important benefits to health and well-being and consequently have been the focus of several government policies to increase participation in the UK. Lifestyle sports represent one such strategy for encouraging and sustaining new engagements in sport and physical activity in youth groups, however, there is at present a lack of understanding of the use of these activities within policy contexts. This paper presents findings from a government initiative which sought to increase participation in sport for young people through provision of facilities for mountain biking in a forest in south-east England. Findings from qualitative research with 40 young people who participated in mountain biking at the case study location highlight the importance of non-traditional sports as a means to experience the natural environments through forms of consumption which are healthy, active and appeal to their identities. In addition, however, the paper raises questions over the accessibility of schemes for some individuals and social groups, and the ability to incorporate sports which are inherently participant-led into state-managed schemes. Lifestyle sports such as mountain biking involve distinct forms of participation which present a challenge for policy-makers who seek to create and maintain sustainable communities of youth participants.Citation
King K, Church A (2015) 'Questioning policy, youth participation and lifestyle sports', Leisure Studies, 34 (3), pp.282-302.Publisher
RoutledgeJournal
Leisure StudiesAdditional Links
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02614367.2014.893005Type
ArticleLanguage
enISSN
0261-4367ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1080/02614367.2014.893005
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