"There's just something about this club. It's been my family." An analysis of the experiences of youth in a South African sport-for-development programme. (February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Draper, Catherine E; Coalter, Fred
• Is Part Of: International review for the sociology of sport. Volume 51:Number 1(2016:Feb.)
• Page Start: 44
• Page End: 60
• Publication Date: 2016-02
• Subjects: perceived self-efficacy -- programme mechanisms -- sport-for-development; Sports -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 306.48305
• DOI: 10.1177/1012690213513783
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1012-6902

Abstract

This article describes a study of a soccer and life skills programme for youth in South Africa: Buffalo City Soccer School (BCSS). The study aimed to provide insight into the programme's mechanisms, and evaluate participants' perceptions of the programme's impact. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 male BCSS participants. Interview data were analysed for thematic content, and the theoretical perspectives of Witt and Crompton ((1997) The protective factors framework: A key to programming for benefits and evaluating for results. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration 15: 1–18), Gambone and Arbreton ((1997) Safe Havens: The Contributions of Youth Organizations to Healthy Adolescent Development . Philadelphia, PA: Public/Private Ventures) and Pawson ((2006) Evidence-Based Policy: A Realist Perspective . London: SAGE) were used to interpret these themes. These perspectives highlighted key processes and mechanisms within the BCSS programme that have led to positive personal impacts: a sense of family and a sense of safety and belonging. Bandura's ((1986) Social Foundations of Thought and Action: A Social Cognitive Theory . Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall) concepts of perceived self-efficacy and agency in adolescent development (Bandura A (2006) Adolescent development from an agentic perspective. In: Pajares F and Urdan T (eds) Self-Efficacy Beliefs of Adolescents . Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishing, pp. 1–43) help make sense of these personal impacts. This study contributes to the identification of the mechanisms through which sport can provide a context for the development of youth.