Grant: Operating Grant: Boy's and Men's Health

The purpose of this study will be to examine positive and negative aspects of youth sport participation among urban male youth in the city of Edmonton, Alberta. Over the past few years community members have expressed concerns about gang-related problems among young males (aged 14-18 years old) who reside in the lowest-income urban areas of Edmonton. While sport participation may help to promote positive physical and psychosocial development, sport teams have also been linked to ethnically based gang activity. In the proposed study we will conduct interviews and observational research with young males involved with various inner city sport programs and collect data from adults involved in youth sport organizations (i.e., coaches, parents, league administrators) and community groups. The data will be analyzed using grounded theory methodology to produce a framework for guiding future research (interventions) and practice to help ensure that sport is provided in a way which produces positive experiences for youth and reduces the negative issues that appear to be problematic at the current time.