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The following rough guide is principally extracted from a publication authored by Fred Coalter (2001)
"The PAT 10 report Arts and Sport (Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 1999) includes health as an area in which sport can contribute to neighbourhood renewal.
The Value of Sport (Sport England, 1999) suggests that sport can make a contribution to "the new policy agenda" by assisting in the improvement of fitness and health - the reduction of risk of coronary heart disease, obesity and osteoporosis; psychological benefits (eg reduction of depression) and a range of more specific health benefits.
- Much of the research evidence relates to the health benefits of physical activity, rather than sports per se. Among many of the least active and least healthy groups, the promotion of an 'active lifestyle' may be a more useful strategy than the promotion of sports (although much depends on the definitions used).
- There is a need to focus on behaviour change rather than formal activity, promoting facility use and uptake of classes and sessions.
- Among sports participants, the frequency of activity is often less than that required to achieve and sustain health benefits.
- Qualitative evidence suggests that the greatest gains from involvement in activity relate to psychological health and increased feelings of well-being.
- It is important that such experiences are complemented by a recognition of the unique physiological benefits of exercise.
- Factors underpinning the success of activity provision have included appropriate and convenient local facilities; recognising the importance of participants' friendship groups in getting involved and staying involved; providing reassurance that 'people just like us' are able to participate; acknowledging, particularly to older people, that some physical activity will be better than none; and recognising that if the activity has some intrinsic value (good fun, enjoyable, a change of environment etc), it may be more appealing and ensure adherence.
- There is a widespread absence of robust monitoring information on the health benefits of participation and little long-term monitoring of adherence to activity programmes. This reflects the short-term nature of many initiatives, the lack of funding for such monitoring and the lack of expertise to undertake such work." (LGA, 2001)
Exerpt from: Coalter F. 2001. Realising the Value of Cultural Services: the case for sport. LGA. London, This document also provides a quick undergraduate guide to the evidence base (in 2001) for other instrumental claims for sport (crime, education and employment) as documented in PAT 10.
For a more in-depth "academic" version by Coalter the reader is directed to Coalter F, Allison M, Taylor J. (2000). The role of sport in regenerating deprived areas. Edinburgh: SECRU
The particular value of the "health agenda" and "sports development" discourse relies on some lateral thinking. The values and knowledge base in sport, physical activity & health participation are almost identical to those of the "Health Promotion" practice and academic domains.
Many of the theoretical models, challenges in both practice and academe, debates and dilemas and evidenced base funding issues in Health Promotion are those which now face sports development. Issues of social exclusion, (gender, ethnicity, social stratification, life long learning for young people, etc.) are mirrored in both of these social intervention professions. The advantage for sports development is that the academic knowledge and theoretical base in Health Promotion is about 15 years ahead of sports development.
It follows that sports development can learn much (if not be theortically kick-started) by those academic foundations provided by Health Promotion.
In this sense, the paucity of "Sports Development" academic resources is mediated by the wealth of "simlilar issues" academic resources provided by Health Promotion.
We have included some book resources in our recommended reading lists that more that prove the academic and practice relationships.
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