Sports, Leisure and Youth Policy at Sydney Uni (EDUF3112)

This unit of study deals with the ways in which society has constructed identity over time in relation to sport and leisure activities. It focuses on the historical, social and educational dimensions of leisure, sport and youth policies, and examines the evolution and motivations that have encouraged attempts to develop 'Youth Policy' in the west during the 20th century.

Within this, special attention is given to the history of sport, the development of physical education, and cultural meanings and practices of sport in Australia. The unit critically examines the social construction of sport and leisure over time including issues of class, gender, ethnicity and age, and explores the use of sport to achieve specific educational aims within institutions and organisations. It also considers post-modern approaches such as the reconfiguration of the work/leisure dichotomy, transformation of the age cycle, youth as an ageless phenomenon and youth movements as reactions against adolescent sexuality.

About the Staff

Course Coordinator - Dr Tim Allender Contact Dr Allender...

Tim teaches and researches the history of education and history curricula and has a particular interest in colonial education. He teaches in the Master of Teaching and Bachelor of Education courses in both history of education and history curricula as well as their associated honours programs at the University of Sydney. He is also involved in preparing pre-service teachers and has critically examined different strategies whereby universities in Australia have established effective links with experienced school-based teachers who are willing to act as student-teacher supervisors.

Dr Richard Light Contact Dr Light...

Richard Light is a leading scholar in this field. He as a background as a physical education teacher and coach in a range of cultural settings, and has published extensively on the social dimensions of sport and physical education. Richard held national and international titles in martial arts, coached rugby in Osaka for 6 years, and is one of the few western scholars researching and writing on Japanese sport.