Physical Activity and Sport During the First Ten Years of Life

Evidence suggests that the first 10 or so years of life create the foundation for subsequent participation in recreational and health-related physical activity. This book brings together researchers and practitioners with expertise in issues related to physical activity, physical education, and sport during the primary/elementary phase of schooling, to explore these important issues.

Combining inter-disciplinary perspectives, the book addresses the inherent complexity of researching with young children. It looks at the evidence on development during the first 10 years and how that evidence relates to physical activity and to sport, in pre-school, school and out of school. Finally, the book offers a series of national case studies, from Asia, Europe and Africa, demonstrating the importance of age-appropriate sport and physical activity.

This is important reading for any student, researcher, educator or policy maker with an interest in physical activity and health, education in the early years or at primary/elementary level, paediatric exercise science, or youth sport.

Jennifer P. Agans is Assistant Professor in the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management at the Pennsylvania State University, USA.

Richard Bailey is an independent writer and researcher based in Berlin, Germany.

Jean Côté is Professor and Director in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada.

Andy Daly-Smith is Senior Lecturer in Physical Activity and Behaviour Science at Leeds Beckett University, UK.

Phillip Tomporowski is Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, and Director of the Cognition and Skill Acquisition Laboratory, at the University of Georgia, USA.