Sports Development: Analyzing UK Policies, Approaches, and Outcomes

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of sports development in the United Kingdom, focusing on the impact of the 'Sporting Future' policy and its implications for both individuals and communities. The essay examines the policy's objectives, including promoting physical and mental well-being, societal and community development, individual development, and economic growth. It also explores various approaches to sports development, such as intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, and initiatives like the FA Skills Development programme and Spaces for Sports. The essay evaluates the effectiveness of these approaches and programs in fostering sporting talent and creating a cohesive sports environment in the UK. The analysis includes a critical assessment of the policy's implementation and its potential for further improvement, highlighting both the benefits and limitations of the strategies employed.

UNDERSTANDING SPORTS
DEVELOPMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................3
Sports development in UK...........................................................................................................3
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................5
Range of approaches towards sports development......................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Sports are an integral part in the overall development of not just an individual but an entire
nation or economy as well (Sam, 2016). The current essay will clearly evaluate the statement that
Sports is also good for us from the perspective of both individual and community with critical
analysis of the Sporting Future policy of UK government.
MAIN BODY
LO 1
Sports development in UK
Sports development can be basically referred to as the use of a variety of sports activity
that directly helps in the development of the entire society or community as well as individuals.
This also involves the presentation of a myriad of opportunities that can directly be associated
with the use or implementation of sports activities (Rowe, 2017). With reference to sports
development in UK, it can further be illustrated that the building up of certain characteristics and
values in an individual such as team working, effective partnership, networking etc. are
inculcated by the utilisation of sports related activities and excursions.
The Sporting Future policy, mainly initiated by David Cameron is the harbinger of a
multiple number of changes that have been proposed in the sports development where emphasis
has been laid on the fact that sports is as necessary and integral part of the everyday lives of the
individual as the other important parts whether academic or professional (Sporting Future,
2015). The policy paper basically addresses the problem of inactivity in the sports participation
of the country where the focus will be on the development of five key aspects i.e. physical and
mental wellbeing, societal and community development, individual development and lastly
economic development of UK as well.
On an individual level, this policy offers a wide category of benefits where the tailor made
needs of the individual will be addressed based on their unique transition between mental,
emotional and physical modes (Sporting Future - A New Strategy for an Active Nation, 2015).
Additionally, the physical activity will be developed and implemented as per the age group of the
person and their personal preferences so that they can engage actively. The fact that this policy
aims to integrate sports at every level just like the education system levels further provides
benefits to the individual because rather than streamlining of one particular sport, there can be
multiple number of sports which will ultimately increase their skills and expertise at different
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sports thus improving the self efficacy of individuals as well. The last key benefit is that this
policy also aims at creation of employment and jobs for those individuals who are keen in sports
and are good players.
When this policy is reviewed on a community level, there are a series of additional benefits
that can be identified. First of all, the key responsibilities regarding the funds, their distribution
will be at community level which will help in the development of those sport activities where
communities collectively lack or require improvement. Overall the productivity and
sustainability in the sports sector will increase which will make sports a more engaging and
quality activity increasing the community cohesion in healthy manner (Sporting Future, 2015).
Availability of trained and developed instructors and coaches throughout the country will also
create a much better integration of sports which is the ultimate aim of the policy. Volunteering at
events, supporting social causes through social drives etc. all the key benefits that a community
can avail under this policy.
CCPR is the national representative body of sports and recreational activities in UK where
it represents around 320 organisation members (Sporting Future, 2015). Amongst these, the
Wolfenden report specifically addressed the voluntary sector organisations and the contribution
that they have indicated towards the different areas of development (Chandak and Nishmitha,
2017). In relation to the sports sector, it can be emphasized that these voluntary organisations
have given financial support and stability to numerous ordinary candidates and the training
facilities that have been provided are also instrumental. However the disadvantage is that the
transactional formalities is an extensive process that sometimes rewards or favours undeserving
candidates and areas just because of better representation thus violating the true nature or
intention of the voluntary organisations. Sport England and Sport Development Council are
however key participants in the development of sports right from the initial level in UK. The
manner in which the Sports England awards funds using lottery method where they support
statutory bodies, voluntary organisations, schools, and councils etc. that are working for the
betterment of sports in UK is an excellent method which encourages sporting habit. Game Plan
strategy that is being used by the government to combat i.e. fight the exclusion that sports faces
at all the levels is an ultimate agenda to integrate and include sports activities in the social and
political agenda of the government of UK (Lopez-Gonzalez and Griffiths, 2018).
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Overall, it can be justified that the Sporting Future is a cohesive and integrated approach that
plays an extensive role in the fostering and fermentation of sporting personalities and talent in
UK right from the beginning nurturing this in the right manner and direction.
LO 2
Range of approaches towards sports development
There are a variety of approaches that are commonly implemented in the entire process of
sports development and advancement in context of UK specifically. Some of these approaches
can be discussed in detail in following manner:
 Intrinsically: The intrinsic approach here basically refers to the intrinsic motivation
where emphasis is laid on the engagement with sports activity not just for fun or leisure
part but for the better and more exhaustive development with pre determined focus and
aims. Here the key aspect is on improvement of performance and mindset that an
individual has towards sports.
 Extrinsically: Extrinsic approach in indicated by the quest that sportspersons have
towards the material or tangible things such as rewards and awards, fame, recognition
and other things (Matthews and Channon, 2017). This acts as a measure where the
different achievements and awards are set as objective for sportsperson so that the efforts
and strategies that are put into action are focused on that one aspect.
 Sport: The sport approach is mainly focused on the development of Olympics as well as
Paralympics sports and the representation of entire UK. Here the entire investment and
training and development take place with intention of preparing candidates for these two
categories only.
 Sport Plus: Here the specialised focus of coaches and trainers lies on the mentoring of
underserved candidates for certain sports plus programmes that help them in the
upliftment and presentation thus addressing the social need as well (Sporting Future - A
New Strategy for an Active Nation, 2015).
 Plus Sport: Here focus lies mainly on the increase in the transparency and integrity
amongst the sports that are practiced in UK and also in eliminating and controlling the
unethical practices that surround the sports such as betting etc.
Therefore the different approaches are developed and implemented mainly in order to
develop a comprehensive and integrated approach towards the overall fostering of sports in UK.
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In accordance with these approaches, there are numerous initiatives and programmes that
have been developed and supported by the government of UK and some of them are:
 FA Skills Development programme: This is basically a football mentoring programme
where football skills are taught to kids between age group of 5 to 11 and school teachers
are also guided. The key partners of this initiative are Sports England and many private
organisations as well such as Lidl, Tesco etc. Their sports development practices is
mainly targeted towards schools where the under 13 years of kids are trained and targeted
without any gender biasness (Nash, Sprouleand Horton, 2017). They mainly worked as
the voluntary organisation according to the rules developed by Sports England and the
overall outcome has been extremely rewarding. This was a very strong approach towards
sport development on a community level.
 Spaces for Sports: This is another programme that works with the aim of influencing 5
million young lives where Football Foundation is the key partner and Barclays is funder
of the entire scheme. It aims to develop employability chances and creating financial
independency for the future generation (Dumitrache, 2016). The programme mainly
facilitates community level sports programmes thus contributing positively in the overall
improvement in the community level of the country.
CONCLUSION
The research conducted in the essay above helps in concluding that the role that Sporting
Future plays as a policy in the overall upliftment of the sports facilities is instrumental. However,
the critical analysis also concludes that the outreach and potential has not been thoroughly
implemented under the policy because the individual and community benefits, as it was
discussed, are wide but the actual results need to be much improved. The different approaches
that are adopted for sports in UK also helped in concluding that sports initiatives and steps that
government is taking are very comprehensive and integrated that aim towards greater results and
steps.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Chandak, S. and Nishmitha, A.M., 2017. Sustainable Development in Sports.
Dumitrache, V.I., 2016. About The Smart Sports Development. Evidence From The Uk Premiere
League. Journal of Smart Economic Growth, 1(1), pp.87-95.
Lopez-Gonzalez, H. and Griffiths, M.D., 2018. Understanding the convergence of markets in
online sports betting. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 53(7), pp.807-823.
Matthews, C.R. and Channon, A., 2017. Understanding sports violence: Revisiting foundational
explorations. Sport in Society, 20(7), pp.751-767.
Nash, C., Sproule, J. and Horton, P., 2017. Continuing professional development for sports
coaches: A road less travelled. Sport in society, 20(12), pp.1902-1916.
Rowe, N.F., 2017. Sporting capital: Transforming sports development policy and practice.
Routledge.
Sam, M.P., 2016. 13 Sports Development. The SAGE Handbook of Sport Management.
Online
Sporting Future. 2015. [ONLINE] Available through :<
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/
attachment_data/file/486622/Sporting_Future_ACCESSIBLE.pdf >
Sporting Future - A New Strategy for an Active Nation. 2015. [ONLINE] Available through :<
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sporting-future-a-new-strategy-for-an-
active-nation >
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