NASSS 2018 Conference - Vancouver

Outside of cities, sport often looks differently. Without the critical mass of bodies and available resources, play is not always categorized by the same factions according to age, gender, level of competition, etc.; infrastructure is not always built, and; outcomes are not always understood in terms of physical literacy and/or athlete development. This interdisciplinary session will explore the processes and products of sport, recreation, and leisure in rural communities. In particular, both scholars and local practitioners are invited to discuss the way that contextual factors constitutive of rural communities (e.g., distance, populations, economies, social norms, etc.) shape both the social processes and outcomes of sport and recreation within these communities. In doing so, we invite critical reflection on the factors (e.g., historical events, contemporary policy, changing economies, etc.) shaping rural life, as well as the role of sport as an expression of agency, resistance, and community development.