ABSTRACT

How do people become involved in sports? What can their experiences teach us?
These are two of the many questions asked by this unique collection of personal stories of people involved in sport. Told by researchers who have interviewd participants and observed what happens in the setting where people play sports, the contributions not only show how sport studies contribute to the wider study of society, but also describe the difficulties and challenges faced when doing research of this kind.
Inside Sports is divided into four main sections reflecting the social processes and developments over time that make up the experience of sport for most people, however diverse their circumstances may otherwise be:
* Early experiences: being introduced to sports
* Experience and identity: becoming an athlete
* Deep in the experience: doing sports
* Transition experiences: facing life beyond the playing field.
In its extensive coverage of the sporting experience from within, as well as its discussion of research methods, Inside Sports will be essential reading for all students studying sport in society.

part |4 pages

PART 1 Early experiences: being introduced to sports

part |4 pages

PART 2 Experience and identity: becoming an athlete

chapter 6|10 pages

ROCK CLIMBERS AND RUGBY PLAYERS

chapter 7|10 pages

MAKING DECISIONS

chapter 8|10 pages

BECOMING AN INTERNATIONAL ATHLETE

chapter 9|8 pages

COMING OF AGE IN NORTH AMERICA

chapter 10|8 pages

BECOMING 100 PERCENT STRAIGHT

chapter 11|10 pages

THE GAME BEGINS AT HOME

chapter |6 pages

LEARNING EXERCISES AND RESOURCES

part |6 pages

PART 3 Deep in the experience: doing sports

chapter 12|6 pages

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

chapter 13|8 pages

SKATEBOARDING

chapter 14|10 pages

BEING PHYSICAL

chapter 15|6 pages

JAY WHITE HAWK

chapter 17|10 pages

FANS, STATUS, AND THE GIFT OF GOLF

chapter 18|10 pages

WIVES INCORPORATED

chapter |6 pages

LEARNING EXERCISES AND RESOURCES

part |6 pages

PART 4 Transition experiences: facing life beyond the playing field

chapter 20|10 pages

WHEN THE BALANCE IS GONE

chapter 21|8 pages

MOVING ON

chapter 22|6 pages

RETIRING FROM THE SIDELINE

chapter |4 pages

LEARNING EXERCISES AND RESOURCES