ABSTRACT

This chapter explores the relationships between young people’s identities and sporting cultures and considers the implications formanaging sports development. Often, sports development planning is situated in relation to the agenda of a particular agency or organisation. This chapter focuses on the relationship between young people’s interests and identities and the aims of sports development as a process of social and individual change. An exploration of key concepts fromyouth culture and sport sociology including identity, agency, resistance, and power are used to explore youth sport contexts. In addition, the interworking of gender, class, ethnicity, and sexuality is explored in relation to how young people experience sport and define themselves. Conceptualising young people’s identities and sports participation as intricately linked to broader social and cultural institutions, discourses, and practices underpins the discussion.