Striving for newcomer inclusion: a critical analysis of Canadian Intro to Sport programmes

Abstract

Sport participation is popularly constructed as an effective means for welcoming newcomers into their new country of residence, despite these claims being critiqued by sport scholars. In this study, we critically interrogated Intro to Sport programmes as one approach for welcoming newcomers into the Canadian sport system using Green's normative theory of sport development to inform our work. Twenty qualitative interviews were conducted with programme administrators, instructors, and parents of newcomer programme participants representing six Intro to Sport programmes. Using thematic analysis, two overarching themes were determined: (1) toward inclusion: negotiating sport participation; and (2) sustainability. We explored how various sport participation barriers were managed towards promoting inclusion across the programmes as well as the pervasiveness of intersectoral community partnerships. We provided a nuanced discussion of the socio-cultural and contextual considerations surrounding Intro to Sport programmes for newcomers, insights that can inform sport development research and practice moving forward. We also offer suggestions to sport administrators involved in Intro to Sport programmes for newcomers and future research directions. RÉSUMÉLa participation sportive est considérée comme un moyen efficace pour aider les nouveaux arrivants à s'intégrer dans leur nouveau domicile, malgré que ces processus d'intégration soient mal compris dans un contexte sportif. Dans le cadre de cette étude, nous avons interrogé de façon critique les programmes d'initiation au sport en tant qu'approche d'accueil des nouveaux arrivants dans le système sportif canadien, à l'aide de la théorie normative de Green (2005) sur le développement du sport. Vingt entretiens qualitatifs ont été menés avec des administrateurs de programme, des entraîneurs et des parents de participants à six programmes d'initiation au sport pour les nouveaux arrivants. Par l'entremise d'une analyse thématique, cinq thèmes se sont dégagés: (1) le rôle du sport dans l'intégration des nouveaux arrivants à la société canadienne; (2) l'importance ARTICLE HISTORY

It’s Just About Having Fun’? Interrogating the lived experiences of newcomers To Canada in introductory winter sport programmes

“…The emphasis here on participation barriers connects to existing newcomer sport and leisure literature (e.g. Barrick et al, 2021; Campbell et al, 2016), and reflects how managing interconnected participation barriers must remain an ongoing priority for sport administrators in striving for social and integration outcomes. This example represents a further example where the absence of structural supports resulted in integration becoming the responsibility of individual newcomers.…”

“…In 2021, Canada admitted 401,000 permanent residents, the largest annual cohort in Canadian history (IRCC, 2021). Sport participation has long been a focus of policy makers and practitioners for integrating newcomers into Canadian society (Robinson et al, 2019), with research exploring newcomer sport participation in Canada representing a burgeoning area of study (Barrick et al, 2021). For example, researchers have investigated social inclusion and exclusion within sport and leisure opportunities for newcomers (e.g.…”

“…In comparison, sports involving ice and snow – herein referred to as ‘winter sports’ – have received scant attention in newcomer sport research (Barrick et al, 2021). Three possible reasons may help explain this dearth of research: (1) geographic and climactic factors: outdoor winter sports generally require cold temperatures, ice, and snow that is restricted to certain geographies (Orr, 2020), (2) migrant demographic trends: large proportions of migrants come from nations where winter sports are not common (e.g.…”

“…How sport programmes in Canada are designed for newcomers is another focus of research (Barrick et al, 2021; Kramers et al, 2021; Rich et al, 2015). Newcomers’ voices, however, have been largely absent from the planning, implementation, and evaluation of newcomer sport programmes (Barrick et al, 2021). One notable exception is Rich et al’s (2015) analysis of the Community Cup soccer tournament.…”

“…programme philosophy, internal/external challenges, the need to collaborate) were being continually (re)considered to intentionally promote physical activity and well-being in an inclusive, culturally safe environment. Lastly, Barrick et al (2021) summarized various strategies introductory sport programme administrators adopted to promote newcomer inclusion and programme sustainability. Thus, structuring effective newcomer sport programmes requires organizers to (re)negotiate complex, inter-related considerations.…”