Examining the Impact of the Funding System on Organized Youth Sport in Portugal: Implications for Research and Practice

The purpose of this critical commentary is to provide insights about the impact of funding structures on youth sport research and programming, with a particular focus on research priorities and access to quality youth sport experiences across competitive youth sport programs. Portugal is used as a...

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Main Authors: Marta Ferreira, Fernando Santos, Dina Miragaia, Dimas Pinto, Tarkington Newman, Meredith Whitley
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: FEADEF 2024-08-01
Series:Retos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación
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Online Access:https://recyt.fecyt.es/index.php/retos/article/view/106884
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author Marta Ferreira
Fernando Santos
Dina Miragaia
Dimas Pinto
Tarkington Newman
Meredith Whitley
author_facet Marta Ferreira
Fernando Santos
Dina Miragaia
Dimas Pinto
Tarkington Newman
Meredith Whitley
author_sort Marta Ferreira
collection DOAJ
description The purpose of this critical commentary is to provide insights about the impact of funding structures on youth sport research and programming, with a particular focus on research priorities and access to quality youth sport experiences across competitive youth sport programs. Portugal is used as a case studyto provide insights about how funding structures may be strategically positioned to positively influence competitive youth sport programs and associated research efforts. The field of competitive youth sports constitutes a complex network influenced by cultural, social, and political factors, where multiple decision makers are driven by funding requirements, performance ideals, and societal norms. This context, although promising, faces challenges such as the prevalence of a lucrative market that prioritizes competitive outcomes, exacerbating inequalities and inherently neoliberal ideals. A strong emphasis placed by funding on winning and performance development may undermine other concerns to emerge across competitive youth sport programs. Furthermore, research programs play a crucial role in understanding and providing novel pathways for competitive youth sport. However there are challenges in seeking funding and academic recognition for these endeavours, which can create a disconnect between knowledge creation and actual needs. This reflection seeks to stimulate an open and constructive dialogue, calling on all actors that are part of the competitive youth system to develop collaborative efforts to make competitive youth sport a holistic experience accessible to all.
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spelling doaj-art-e39076757a9c451b8b600166fc74be7a2025-08-20T02:39:34ZengFEADEFRetos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación1579-17261988-20412024-08-015710.47197/retos.v57.106884Examining the Impact of the Funding System on Organized Youth Sport in Portugal: Implications for Research and PracticeMarta FerreiraFernando Santos0Dina Miragaia1Dimas Pinto2Tarkington Newman3Meredith Whitley4Escola Superior de Educação do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, inED, Centro de Investigação e Inovação em Educação, Escola Superior de Educação, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, PortugaldSport Sciences Department, University of Beira Interior, Research Unit in Business Sciences - NECE, Covilhã, PortugalInstituto Europeu de Estudos Superiores, Escola Superior de Educação, Fafe, PortugalfSport Social Work Research Lab, College of Social Work, University of Kentucky, Kentucky, United StatesDepartment of Health and Sport Sciences, Ruth S. Ammon College of Education and Health Sciences, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York, United States, Centre for Sport Leadership, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa The purpose of this critical commentary is to provide insights about the impact of funding structures on youth sport research and programming, with a particular focus on research priorities and access to quality youth sport experiences across competitive youth sport programs. Portugal is used as a case studyto provide insights about how funding structures may be strategically positioned to positively influence competitive youth sport programs and associated research efforts. The field of competitive youth sports constitutes a complex network influenced by cultural, social, and political factors, where multiple decision makers are driven by funding requirements, performance ideals, and societal norms. This context, although promising, faces challenges such as the prevalence of a lucrative market that prioritizes competitive outcomes, exacerbating inequalities and inherently neoliberal ideals. A strong emphasis placed by funding on winning and performance development may undermine other concerns to emerge across competitive youth sport programs. Furthermore, research programs play a crucial role in understanding and providing novel pathways for competitive youth sport. However there are challenges in seeking funding and academic recognition for these endeavours, which can create a disconnect between knowledge creation and actual needs. This reflection seeks to stimulate an open and constructive dialogue, calling on all actors that are part of the competitive youth system to develop collaborative efforts to make competitive youth sport a holistic experience accessible to all. https://recyt.fecyt.es/index.php/retos/article/view/106884youthdevelopmentmanagementpolicycoach
spellingShingle Marta Ferreira
Fernando Santos
Dina Miragaia
Dimas Pinto
Tarkington Newman
Meredith Whitley
Examining the Impact of the Funding System on Organized Youth Sport in Portugal: Implications for Research and Practice
Retos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación
youth
development
management
policy
coach
title Examining the Impact of the Funding System on Organized Youth Sport in Portugal: Implications for Research and Practice
title_full Examining the Impact of the Funding System on Organized Youth Sport in Portugal: Implications for Research and Practice
title_fullStr Examining the Impact of the Funding System on Organized Youth Sport in Portugal: Implications for Research and Practice
title_full_unstemmed Examining the Impact of the Funding System on Organized Youth Sport in Portugal: Implications for Research and Practice
title_short Examining the Impact of the Funding System on Organized Youth Sport in Portugal: Implications for Research and Practice
title_sort examining the impact of the funding system on organized youth sport in portugal implications for research and practice
topic youth
development
management
policy
coach
url https://recyt.fecyt.es/index.php/retos/article/view/106884
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