Two typical assumption of our youth sport cultures are that sport contributes to positive youth development (PYD) and that participants learn something important not only for sport, but life in general. As our previous work with colleagues (as well as the work of other researchers) has pointed out, this learning in sport has been oftenContinue reading “Existential Learning in Sport: on Finding our Ways through Life”
Author Archives: Noora Ronkainen
Dr Erin Reifsteck: Developing a New Relationship with Sport Post-retirement
Athletic retirement is a much-studied topic, but only recently have researchers started to explore whether sport and physical activity remains part of retired athletes’ lives. Do athletes still find sport and physical activity meaningful pursuits, and if so, how do they change their practice and relationship with them? What kind of identity changes are required?Continue reading “Dr Erin Reifsteck: Developing a New Relationship with Sport Post-retirement”
Dr Ayse Yemiscigil: Understanding Purpose in Life, Physical Activity and Sport
I became aware of Ayse Yemiscigil´s work through her article (co-authored with Ivo Vlaev) The bidirectional relationship between sense of purpose in life and physical activity: a longitudinal study. I was excited to discuss with Ayse her work which is one of the first to look at these two things together. Ayse also shared storiesContinue reading “Dr Ayse Yemiscigil: Understanding Purpose in Life, Physical Activity and Sport “
Dr Dev Roychowdhury and Dr Maria Luisa Guinto: Mindfulness, What For?
Mindfulness has become a panacea for well-being and performance and is widely used in workplaces, schools… and sports. Many sport psychology studies have documented its benefits for athletes and it has become one of the main topics of sport psychology conferences. Dr Dev Roychowdhury and Dr Maria Luisa Guinto visited the meaningful sport podcast toContinue reading “Dr Dev Roychowdhury and Dr Maria Luisa Guinto: Mindfulness, What For?”
Drs Mac Ross and Michael McDougall: The Olympics, Human Rights and Managing Meaning(s) in Sport
“Why should people lose their homes for a hockey game to happen?” The upcoming Beijing Olympics have been in the media due to serious human rights concerns in the host country, but it is not the first time when there have been serious ethical concerns with hosting this sporting megaevent. Mac Ross and Michael McDougallContinue reading “Drs Mac Ross and Michael McDougall: The Olympics, Human Rights and Managing Meaning(s) in Sport”
Meaningful Sport Podcast: What is New for 2022?
The meaningful sport thematic series has now been going for about 1.5 years as a part of Physical Activity Researcher podcast. During this time, the podcast has grown steadily and we have been delighted to have a third host, Liis Kukkonen, leading her “practitioner viewpoint” series. Meaningful Sport episodes have been released on Fridays andContinue reading “Meaningful Sport Podcast: What is New for 2022?”
Jim Harte: Telling Stories in Physical Education
What if physical education was about inviting young people into a story and living that story through the school year? This is an approach that coach and teacher Jim Harte has developed during his long career as a physical education teacher. The story is lived through in songs (musical learning) and a performance that finishesContinue reading “Jim Harte: Telling Stories in Physical Education”
Tim Jones: Social and Emotional Learning in Football Academies
Football academies in the UK have been under critical scrutiny by many researchers. Described as hierarchical, short-termist and embodying hegemonic notions of masculinity, it has been argued that they often contribute to identity foreclosure in young players. But are these academies addressing these problems and working towards supporting a more balanced development? Tim Jones, aContinue reading “Tim Jones: Social and Emotional Learning in Football Academies”
Dr Teemu Pauha: Understanding Religion and (New) Spiritualities in Sport
Especially in Western Europe, a growing number of people choose not to be affiliated with organised religion. But does it mean that they reject everything religious? And does sport have something to offer for spiritual life, at least for some? Dr Teemu Pauha visited the podcast to share his thoughts on these issues. Although myContinue reading “Dr Teemu Pauha: Understanding Religion and (New) Spiritualities in Sport”
Dr Kurtis Pankow: Flourishing and Languishing in Sport
A complete mental health is not merely about the absence of mental illness. Yet, surprisingly few studies in a sport context have focused on understanding what contributes to positive mental health and high levels of well-being in athletes and coaches. Dr Kurtis Pankow recently completed a PhD dissertation that sought answers to this question. HeContinue reading “Dr Kurtis Pankow: Flourishing and Languishing in Sport”