Are athlete development systems narrowing meaning(s) of sport? Dr Christian Thue Bjørndal (Pt2) - Meaningful Sport Series

Youth athletes quickly learn that they have to perform certain identities - as hardworking, dedicated, and always ready to train more - to maximise their chances of staying on the athlete development pathway and 'making it' to senior sport. What are the implications of the 'always more' culture on their being-in-the-world and meaningful experience in sport?

Why should we consider the term opting out instead of dropping out from sport? What other cultural narratives and discourses should we challenge to open up more diverse ways of experiencing and being in the sport world? 

Dr Christian Thue Bjørndal is an Associate Professor at the Department of Sport and Social Science at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. Christian’s work has focused on interdisciplinary perspectives on athlete learning and development with a special emphasis on sociocultural perspectives and ecological dynamics. In the podcast, we have an opportunity to look into some of the latest work he has produced on these topics.

---

Liked this episode? You are likely to find these previous conversations interesting:

Tim Jones on social and emotional learning in football academies 

Francesca Champ on balancing performance and well-being in football academies

Colum Cronin on caring coaching.