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Democracy on the Sidelines: The Erosion and Potential of Youth Sports as Democratic Education

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Title: Democracy on the Sidelines: The Erosion and Potential of Youth Sports as Democratic Education
Language: English
Authors: Kurt Stemhagen (ORCID 0000-0002-0819-6728), Kathy Hytten (ORCID 0000-0003-3092-8451)
Source: AERA Open. 2025 11(1).
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 14
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Evaluative
Descriptors: Athletics, Democratic Values, Youth Programs, Citizenship Education, Democracy, Life Style, Child Development, Interpersonal Relationship, Barriers
ISSN: 2332-8584
Abstract: In this philosophical paper, we argue that youth sports, both in and out of schools, are a largely unrealized space for democratic/civic education. Where youth sports leagues used to be low cost, local, and inclusive, much has changed over the last several decades. We are now in the neoliberal era of exclusive, privatized, and professionalized youth sports. Drawing on Dewey's robust conception of democracy and Talisse's concerns about partisan polarization, we argue that youth sports should be spaces to develop democratic habits, dispositions, and values. We explore the benefits of youth sports as well as current challenges, including excessive costs and pressure, disrupted families, and hyperindividualism. We end by offering suggestions for reforming youth sports to recenter their educational and democratic potential and value, including supporting loosely structured play, modeling democratic behavior, teaching democratic habits directly, and learning from more progressive national sports models.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1494446
Database: ERIC
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kurt+Stemhagen%22">Kurt Stemhagen</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0819-6728">0000-0002-0819-6728</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kathy+Hytten%22">Kathy Hytten</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3092-8451">0000-0003-3092-8451</externalLink>)
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  Data: In this philosophical paper, we argue that youth sports, both in and out of schools, are a largely unrealized space for democratic/civic education. Where youth sports leagues used to be low cost, local, and inclusive, much has changed over the last several decades. We are now in the neoliberal era of exclusive, privatized, and professionalized youth sports. Drawing on Dewey's robust conception of democracy and Talisse's concerns about partisan polarization, we argue that youth sports should be spaces to develop democratic habits, dispositions, and values. We explore the benefits of youth sports as well as current challenges, including excessive costs and pressure, disrupted families, and hyperindividualism. We end by offering suggestions for reforming youth sports to recenter their educational and democratic potential and value, including supporting loosely structured play, modeling democratic behavior, teaching democratic habits directly, and learning from more progressive national sports models.
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      – SubjectFull: Youth Programs
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