Social Justice Youth Development through Sport and Physical Activity

A special issue of Youth (ISSN 2673-995X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 2333

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Center for Sport Leadership, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
Interests: social for change; sport for development; juvenile justice; sport policy; public policy; community-engaged scholarship

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Guest Editor
School of Health Sciences and Social Work, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia
Interests: promotion of physical activity among individuals with a disability; mediators of physical activity participation; evaluation of physical activity promotion interventions; the translation of evidence-based interventions into clinical practice

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Guest Editor
School of Health and Human Sciences, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA
Interests: restorative youth sports; teaching personal and social responsibility through sport and physical activity; community-engaged scholarship

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Guest Editor
Sport Social Work Research Lab, College of Social Work, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
Interests: critical positive youth development; youth sport; normative and social justice life skills; coach education; sport social work; qualitative research methods

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ever-present but further exacerbated and exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, political and civil conflict, and the ongoing realities of colonization, racial oppression as well as gender and gender identity inequity and violence have rightfully garnered increased platforms and dialogue on issues of social justice. Social justice is a broad, and at times, contested term. It is frequently used and aspired to, but rarely clearly defined. This broad conceptualization offers both challenges and opportunities for scholars and practitioners working at the intersection of youth development, social justice, sport, and physical activity. This Special Issue aims to highlight cross- and interdisciplinary work under the broad umbrella of social justice youth development through sport and physical activity. We adopt a definition of social justice youth development offered by the Center for Social Justice Youth Development Research, which states that it is: “focused on creating equitable access and opportunities for all youth by actively reducing or eliminating disparities in education, health, employment, justice, and any other system that hinders the development of young people” (Outley, Brown, Gabriel, Sullins, 2018, p. 486, informed by Ginwright and Cammarota, 2002).

We are interested in, but not limited to, pieces that contribute to the theoretical, methodological, and practical aspects of youth development through sport and physical activity for social justice across a wide array of sport and physical activity-related topics and disciplines including social work, sport and exercise science, sport management, sport for development, sociology, cultural studies, gender studies, education, public policy, and more.

Dr. Kalyn McDonough
Dr. Kelly Clanchy
Dr. Michael A. Hemphill
Dr. Tarkington J. Newman
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Youth is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • social justice
  • youth development
  • sport
  • physical activity
  • equity

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 269 KiB  
Article
Youth Voices: Experiences of Adolescents in a Sport-Based Prison Program
by Gabrielle Bennett, Jennifer M. Jacobs and Zach Wahl-Alexander
Youth 2025, 5(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/youth5010027 - 4 Mar 2025
Viewed by 475
Abstract
A substantial amount of the literature has examined the impact of participation in sport-based youth development programming and its global contribution to the lives of young people. In a similar vein, the outcomes of sport-based leadership programs are heavily influenced by the relationships [...] Read more.
A substantial amount of the literature has examined the impact of participation in sport-based youth development programming and its global contribution to the lives of young people. In a similar vein, the outcomes of sport-based leadership programs are heavily influenced by the relationships and life skills acquired. One often overlooked demographic in this literature is incarcerated youth, a unique population who’s time spent in juvenile justice is fundamentally designed to prioritize rehabilitation and development. This paper sought to understand youths’ experiences in a sport-based leadership prison program with regards to content, relationship building, and transfer. This study included semi-structured interviews with three, currently incarcerated, adolescent black males, exploring their experiences as participants in their sport leadership program. Results included themes around the program meaning, relationship enhancers, and life skill learnings. Findings explore how sport-based prison programs may consider the importance of physical and psychological safety, relationship building, and life skill teachings as crucial components of a program that remain with participants well into their reintegration within society. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Justice Youth Development through Sport and Physical Activity)

Review

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13 pages, 281 KiB  
Review
The Pursuit of Social Justice Through Sport for Development Organizations in the United States
by Meredith A. Whitley
Youth 2025, 5(1), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/youth5010029 - 11 Mar 2025
Viewed by 486
Abstract
While Sport for Development (SfD) scholars have deconstructed the interplay between global development discourse, policy, funding, practice, and local agency, SfD organizations in the Global North have yet to be deconstructed with the same intensity, rigor, and scope. In this paper, the complex, [...] Read more.
While Sport for Development (SfD) scholars have deconstructed the interplay between global development discourse, policy, funding, practice, and local agency, SfD organizations in the Global North have yet to be deconstructed with the same intensity, rigor, and scope. In this paper, the complex, dynamic interplay among development discourse, policy, funding, practice, and local agency will be deconstructed as it relates to SfD provision in the United States. There will be a particular focus on SfD leadership structures that can unlock more sustainable, egalitarian development discourse and practices which promote and advance social justice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Justice Youth Development through Sport and Physical Activity)

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

8 pages, 210 KiB  
Hypothesis
Culturally Equitable Approaches to Physical Activity Programming for Black American Adolescent Girls
by Tara B. Blackshear
Youth 2025, 5(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/youth5010026 - 4 Mar 2025
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Abstract
Physical activity interventions and programming for Black American girls often overlook racism and sexism as a fundamental cause of the differences in engagement between their white and male peers. Deficit framing is a standard where Black girls are often compared to the health, [...] Read more.
Physical activity interventions and programming for Black American girls often overlook racism and sexism as a fundamental cause of the differences in engagement between their white and male peers. Deficit framing is a standard where Black girls are often compared to the health, physical activity, and beauty standards driven by white feminine or masculine norms, suggesting there is only one way to be fit and healthy. Approaches that lack cultural and historical relevance, including the effects of systemic racism and sexism, are seldom considered before aiming to increase physical activity engagement and favorable health outcomes for Black teenage girls. Aim: This paper presents a brief overview of physical activity programming for Black adolescent girls and young women (aged 14–18) and proposes theoretical frameworks and approaches to consider before implementing physical activity interventions and programs. Concluding Remarks: Voice, intersectionality, misogynoir, representation, and gendered racism as a root cause should inform physical activity programming designed for Black adolescent girls. Culturally equitable approaches for real and sustainable change are required to increase physical activity engagement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Justice Youth Development through Sport and Physical Activity)
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