Pedagogies of Sport in Youth Detention: Withholding, Developing, or Just “Busying the Youth”?

Abstract

This article examines pedagogies of sport in youth detention, drawing on ethnography (primarily participatory observations and interviews) at two all-male youth detention homes in Sweden. Focusing on youths’ experiences situated in discourse and practice, three pedagogies of doing sport in youth detention are described: withholding sport, busying with sport, and sport as developmental community. The young men in this study experienced mixed messages through sport, revealing how rehabilitation through sport was obscured by predominant pedagogies of withholding sport (i.e., punishment or correction) and busying with sport (i.e., containment or filling the time). Yet there were glimpses of another pedagogy, sport as developmental community, and the experiences and pedagogical work underpinning this endeavor are highlighted. This study illustrates how competing functions of youth justice—punishment, containment, and development—are accomplished, and experienced, through (sport) pedagogical practice.

‘For those few minutes you are free’: The meaning of sport from imprisoned men's perspective

“…In this context, a few studies examine from a pedagogical perspective how sport aiming at rehabilitation is arranged, carried out and experienced in prison (e.g. Roe, 2021; Roe et al, 2019). Some studies suggest that participation in sport has a positive influence on the social behaviour of detained people, for example by teaching them cooperation and reducing antisocial behaviour (Kerekes et al, 2017; Kovalsky et al, 2020; van Hout and Phelan, 2014).…”

Methodological reflections on artistically illustrating ethnographic text from a study of sport pedagogy in youth detention: Ethics, affect, and description

“…This article draws on Dan's doctoral thesis ( 21 ), an ethnographic study of sport at two all-male youth detention homes in Sweden (ages 16–21). The specific aim of the thesis was to explore pedagogies of sport in youth detention.…”

“…At the beginning of each chapter in the PhD thesis ( 21 ), illustrations inspired by scenes from the field work were featured. All in all, there are eight artistic illustrations including the one on the cover.…”

“…Thus, the image seeks to convey an important metaphor in the research: how sport activities are used to “ferry the time” ( att slussa tiden ) ( 32 ). Ferrying the time can be likened to an institutional pedagogy where the only clear aim with sport is to “busy the youth” to keep them (temporarily) calm or manageable.…”

“…Yet graphics may for example connote ease and humor, somethings which researchers may not always wish to communicate. In this paper, we describe and reflect upon methodological considerations when illustrating a PhD thesis, an ethnographic study of sport pedagogy in youth detention ( 21 ). Doing so, we add to the discussion on what visual and artistic aspects can contribute to the dissemination of social research in ways which at times must be devoid of the ease and humor of comics.…”