Promoting Joy in Youth Sports
Sport experiences for young athletes are very diverse. It is a mistake to assume that all sports are
organized around the same goals and orientations, played in the same spirit, or defined in the
same way. At this time, the most dominant sport form in wealthy, postindustrial nations is
organized around the power and performance model. This model espouses the ideas of pushing
human limits, proving excellence through hard work and dedication, playing in pain or when
injured, meeting performance standards to make teams, enormous control from coaches and
administrators, and high levels of competition.
At the opposite end of the spectrum is the pleasure and participation model. This model involves
Promoting Joy in Youth Sports
connections among people, a spirit of personal enjoyment and growth, personal empowerment
through participation, inclusiveness, democratic decision-making, and collegial competition with
competitors defined as partners.
With this in mind, and based on your sports interests and career goals, discuss ways to preserve
and promote pleasure and sports participation in the U.S. today. Is this important to do in today’s
society, given the current rates of obesity and sedentary lifestyles of many young people?
Your Analysis Report: Children’s Socialization into Sport Assignment must be completed
based on the following criteria:
• 2 full pages;
• 1-inch margins;
• Double-spaced;
• 12-point Times New Roman font;
• 2 scholarly resources; and
• 1 biblical passage.
Put a title on the top line of the first page. No other identifying information is needed. You must
also include the reference information for each source in correct current APA format on a
separate page.
Promoting Joy in Youth Sports
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How are sports currently organized in postindustrial nations?,
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What defines the power and performance model?,
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What defines the pleasure and participation model?,
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How can pleasure and participation be promoted in U.S. sports today?,
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Why is this promotion important in the context of obesity and sedentary lifestyles?
🧠 General Comprehensive Answer:
In many postindustrial nations, particularly the U.S., sports are primarily organized around the power and performance model, which emphasizes winning, physical sacrifice, pushing beyond limits, and top-down control from coaches and institutions. This model often fosters intense competition and rewards only a small number of high-performing athletes, sometimes at the cost of emotional well-being, inclusivity, and long-term engagement in