Youth Voices: Experiences of Adolescents in a Sport-Based Prison Program
A substantial amount of the literature has examined the impact of participation in sport-based youth development programming and its global contribution to the lives of young people. In a similar vein, the outcomes of sport-based leadership programs are heavily influenced by the relationships and li...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Youth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-995X/5/1/27 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850277260764905472 |
|---|---|
| author | Gabrielle Bennett Jennifer M. Jacobs Zach Wahl-Alexander |
| author_facet | Gabrielle Bennett Jennifer M. Jacobs Zach Wahl-Alexander |
| author_sort | Gabrielle Bennett |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A substantial amount of the literature has examined the impact of participation in sport-based youth development programming and its global contribution to the lives of young people. In a similar vein, the outcomes of sport-based leadership programs are heavily influenced by the relationships and life skills acquired. One often overlooked demographic in this literature is incarcerated youth, a unique population who’s time spent in juvenile justice is fundamentally designed to prioritize rehabilitation and development. This paper sought to understand youths’ experiences in a sport-based leadership prison program with regards to content, relationship building, and transfer. This study included semi-structured interviews with three, currently incarcerated, adolescent black males, exploring their experiences as participants in their sport leadership program. Results included themes around the program meaning, relationship enhancers, and life skill learnings. Findings explore how sport-based prison programs may consider the importance of physical and psychological safety, relationship building, and life skill teachings as crucial components of a program that remain with participants well into their reintegration within society. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-07a814bd66dc445b931ed1836d21068e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-995X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Youth |
| spelling | doaj-art-07a814bd66dc445b931ed1836d21068e2025-08-20T01:49:57ZengMDPI AGYouth2673-995X2025-03-01512710.3390/youth5010027Youth Voices: Experiences of Adolescents in a Sport-Based Prison ProgramGabrielle Bennett0Jennifer M. Jacobs1Zach Wahl-Alexander2Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USADepartment of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USADepartment of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USAA substantial amount of the literature has examined the impact of participation in sport-based youth development programming and its global contribution to the lives of young people. In a similar vein, the outcomes of sport-based leadership programs are heavily influenced by the relationships and life skills acquired. One often overlooked demographic in this literature is incarcerated youth, a unique population who’s time spent in juvenile justice is fundamentally designed to prioritize rehabilitation and development. This paper sought to understand youths’ experiences in a sport-based leadership prison program with regards to content, relationship building, and transfer. This study included semi-structured interviews with three, currently incarcerated, adolescent black males, exploring their experiences as participants in their sport leadership program. Results included themes around the program meaning, relationship enhancers, and life skill learnings. Findings explore how sport-based prison programs may consider the importance of physical and psychological safety, relationship building, and life skill teachings as crucial components of a program that remain with participants well into their reintegration within society.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-995X/5/1/27sport-based youth developmentjuvenile justicelife skills |
| spellingShingle | Gabrielle Bennett Jennifer M. Jacobs Zach Wahl-Alexander Youth Voices: Experiences of Adolescents in a Sport-Based Prison Program Youth sport-based youth development juvenile justice life skills |
| title | Youth Voices: Experiences of Adolescents in a Sport-Based Prison Program |
| title_full | Youth Voices: Experiences of Adolescents in a Sport-Based Prison Program |
| title_fullStr | Youth Voices: Experiences of Adolescents in a Sport-Based Prison Program |
| title_full_unstemmed | Youth Voices: Experiences of Adolescents in a Sport-Based Prison Program |
| title_short | Youth Voices: Experiences of Adolescents in a Sport-Based Prison Program |
| title_sort | youth voices experiences of adolescents in a sport based prison program |
| topic | sport-based youth development juvenile justice life skills |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-995X/5/1/27 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gabriellebennett youthvoicesexperiencesofadolescentsinasportbasedprisonprogram AT jennifermjacobs youthvoicesexperiencesofadolescentsinasportbasedprisonprogram AT zachwahlalexander youthvoicesexperiencesofadolescentsinasportbasedprisonprogram |