ABSTRACT

Adapted from Wengers models of learning communities, they include mutual engagement, joint enterprise, and a shared repertoire. Mutual engagement refers to the idea that, even though a team or community is comprised of different players in terms of demographics and levels of learning and skill development, learners and learning agents can come together and focus on the goals that need to be accomplished. Among other purposes, social learning and social development theories have been applied to student athlete populations in order to address issues of moral reasoning and decision-making, motivation to excel during practices and preparation for games, and academic/educational lessons learned from athletic experiences. Many sports that take place in K-12 settings are team sports, which initially require student athletes to develop a group identity as well as an understanding of the positions and roles they have within the team and designated groups used for practices and other preparatory purposes.