12.1 Sport for Development (SDF)

Sport for Development, aka. Sport Development for Peace

Term for corporate, governmental, and NGO

Uses ‘power of sport‘ as a universal integrative practice. Not necessarily good.

Promote humanitarian assistance, development, education, phys act, health, empowerment.

We are not trying to get better at soccer, we are trying to give/teach health opportunities using soccer to bring people together.

Critique of SFD

Can be colonialism. Tied very much to western understandings of gender and sexuality. Social/cultural norms. Assimilation.

What does Brady say about spaces for girls and women?

In adolescence, the world expands for boys and contracts for girls. Less space for girls to be active.

What does Kay et al. say about the state of play?

Understand that benefits are not guaranteed. Both positives and negatives can occur. Need to do no harm.

Need to understand socio-cultural contexts. Need unity and to understand the roots of inequality.

How to ensure a good SFD?

1. Value local knowledge

2. In-country partners

3. Bottom-up

4. Monitor and evaluate

5. Should not privilege quantitative approaches, i.e. only 20 people came vs. 50% of the community came vs. 4 people came but we changed their lives.

What does Coalter say about funding?

Projects get made to fit funding, not needs. Mission drift. Target for donor. Inflated promises.

Critique the girl effect

Puts a huge load on girls’ shoulders without structural assistance to facilitate change. Implies that girls alone can develop the community