Youth experiences of a rural South African sport development programme

Sport is viewed as a mechanism that leads to both personal and social development experiences. Therefore, sport can positively affect youth experiences and improve their quality of life. Moreover, sport is recognised as a simple and effective means of achieving the SDGs, addressing social challenges and improving the health and social well-being of the participants. This research aimed to explore the youth experiences of a rural South African sports development programme to understand how and why the youth in rural South Africa experienced the sports development programme the way they did. This study followed a qualitative, descriptive research design. This study was grounded in a theoretical framework based on youth developmental experiences through sport (YDETS). The framework emanated from positive youth development (PYD) and self-determination theory (SDT). By adopting the YDETS theoretical perspective, the study offered a unique opportunity to explore the diverse realities of youth and identify factors facilitating or hindering positive development outcomes.

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