Module SPRT2231: SPORTS POLICY AND PRACTICE

Department: Applied Social Sciences (Sport)

SPRT2231: SPORTS POLICY AND PRACTICE

Tied To

• C601: Sport

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To provide students with an understanding of the political and social context within which sports policy-making occurs
• to enable students to gain a clear critical understanding of sports policy and practice since 1995
• to introduce students to some of the theoretical and conceptual tools through which to analyse and evaluate sports policy
• to provide students with an understanding of the issures and challences that accompany policy development and implementation

Content

• Many aspects of sport command policy attention. Issues directly relevant to playing sport such as violence, racism, homophobia and drug use have all been subjected to the ‘policy lens’ in recent times. In addition, broader social and structural concerns such as urban and economic regeneration, crime prevention, health and well-being and social exclusion are increasingly occupying central places on the policy agenda for sport and physical activity in the UK and elsewhere. With such breadth of policy concerns, sports policy is one of the most rapidly changing policy areas we have. It is also one of the most contested, and is subject to pressures from government, commerce, media and the community. With this as brief background, this module will focus on sports policy since 1995 (ie past 10 years) and will examine the practical implications of delivering the ever-changing sports agendas of successive governments. While the main focus of the module is on sports policy in the UK, examples from other policy contexts will also be examined.
• Three main themes are explored in this module:
• 'Developing policy' provides students with an introduction and overview of the broad level influences that shape and drive policy development.
• 'Frameworks for Policy Analysis' equips students with the conceptual and theoretical tools for analysing and evaluating effective sports policy. Particular policy initiatives such as the Game Plan, Sport 21; Sport Raising the Game and a More Active Australia will be examined in some detail.
• 'Sports Policy in Practice' examines some of the issues and challenges for policy implementation, research transfer and measuring policy ‘success’.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the different sport policies introduced by successive governments in the UK and elsewhere since 1995.
• Explore, analyse and reflect critically on the Government's agenda for physical activity in the areas of economic regeneration, social deprivation, crime and health and well-being.

• Examine methods being used to practically implement the Government's programme around physical activity.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Teaching and learning will be centred round lectures and seminars and will allow opportunities for students to reflect and critically analyse government policy.
• Assessment will be centred upon a 2,500 word assignment that will require students to research and report on a specific aspect of sport policy and practice.
• The two-hour unseen examination will require students to review all aspects addressed within the module in order to answer specific questions on theoretical issues and practical considerations emanating from government policy on sport and the practical implementation of policy via specific initiatives and programmes.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Non-compulsory 1,000 - 1,500 word assignment.