The document is a case study report summarizing interviews with two 8-year-old children, Jack and Jill, about their socialization into sports. It finds that both children enjoy sports at school and are encouraged by parents and teachers. Jack plays soccer outside of school while Jill does dancing. Both feel sports are fun and boost their self-esteem. The children's experiences align with literature that significant social influences, opportunities to be active, and enjoyment of sports facilitate youth socialization into physical activity.

1. Unit EDPE245
Human Physical Performance 1
Assignment 2 – Case Study Report
Dr John Haynes
Semester 1, 2011
Assignment completed by Julie Papps
Student Number: 220076557

2. INTRODUCTION:
When it comes to children, socialisation is one of the most important developments a child
will embark on. Socialisation into sport is defined by Delaney & Madigan (2009: 77) as “a
process where individuals are encouraged to partake in sport either as a participant or
spectator so that individuals can interact with one another and learn about society’s
expectations of behaviour so they can participate and function within society”. The most
common ways children develop socialisation skills includes observing and modelling others,
trial and error, and social interaction (Payne & Isaacs. 1995: 41). There are several important
factors that have been identified as affecting the social development of children in sport.
These factors include the influence of important people in the child’s life, a child’s social
situation, the family socioeconomic status, gender and perceived ability and self esteem
(Haywood 1995: 305 & Brustad 1996: 318).
The people most likely to influence a child’s socialisation process include family members,
teachers, coaches and peers. Payne & Isaacs (1995: 41) reveal that the level of social support
given to a child from these people greatly influences the level of participation in physical
activity. In most cases the parents are the primary influence over a child’s movement choice
and success. Johnson (1989: 23) explains that parental physical activity and the amount of
time parents spend with children in physical active pursuits were two of the most influential
factors in socialisation. Parents can encourage children to engage in active play, games and
sports or they can support sedentary play and activities (Haywood 1995: 306). This
encouragement will almost definitely influence whether or not a child will participate in
physical activities and sport. In addition, this author also illustrates that teachers and
coaches also strongly influence a child’s socialisation by strengthening the process begun
earlier in a child’s life by family members. Teachers and coaches can also introduce children
to new and exciting activities which inspire children to learn the skills and attitudes

3. associated with sport. Teachers and coaches must be aware that bad sport experiences can
have lifelong consequences for a child’s overall confidence and self esteem. Finally, both
Haywood (1995: 308) and Payne & Isaacs (1995: 49) reveal that peer groups do not seem to
influence participation in sport until the child starts to approach adolescence. Peers seem to
provide a stronger influence for participation in team sports rather than individual sports
and if peers consider participation in sport as part of the norm they will pressure other
members of the group to be active participants also.
A child’s social situation such as their play environment, activities and toy availability also
affects social development. Haywood (1995: 309) suggests that an appropriate play area,
such as a backyard or park, can provide the social setting a child requires to socialise into
sport involvement. Children who have adequate space for play have the opportunity to be
involved in activities and practice skills the child has learned, which in turn promotes
participation in sports. Children’s toys also affect the socialisation process. Depending on the
type of toy, toys can promote either active or inactive play, for example a ball promotes
outdoor play involving running and kicking, whereas a board game promotes indoor
sedentary type play (Haywood 1995: 310). The socioeconomic status of a family affects a
child’s social situation due to the accessibility of the above mentioned play environment,
activities and toys depending on the availability of family and community economic
resources (Brustad 1996: 318). Researchers have found that the more play spaces available
in a community the more children were engaged in physical activity (Sallis et al. 1993, as
cited in Brustad 1996: 318)
Perceived ability and self esteem is also an element of the socialisation process. Haywood
(1995: 311) demonstrates that children are unlikely to continue playing a sport if they expect
to achieve little success. While a child who perceives their ability as high will more than likely
continue with the activity. This author also illustrates that in general boys perceive their
ability as high regardless of their level of involvement in sport, whereas, only girls who are

4. involved in sport perceive their ability as high. Researchers Payne & Isaacs (1995: 43) have
found that sixty six percent of children who undertake physical activity exceed self esteem
scores of children who undertake sedentary activities. Haywood (1995: 315) illustrates that if
a child feels the excitement and pride that is associated with success or the stress and
disappointment associated with failure, this will affect a child’s self esteem, and in turn
affect the child’s motivation to participate in sport.
In the past society has considered certain games and sports to be more fitting for boys than
for girls, and vice versa. Haywood (1995: 310) points out that pressure put on children to
participate in gender specific games can have repercussions when it comes to opportunities
to practice various skills. The author also reveals that traditionally, boys have been given the
chance to play games that involve strategy, are goal orientated and are complex in nature;
while girls are given non-competitive tasks that involve waiting turns for simple repetitive
tasks.
Socialisation is an important part of development for children as it aids children in the
process of realising their expected roles and behaviours in society, rules and regulations
along with influencing a child’s decision of whether to participate in physical activity or not
(Payne & Isaacs 1995: 59). The significant people in a child’s life, the social situation of a
child, self esteem and social attributes all contribute to the socialisation process.
METHODOLOGY:
For the interview I decided to ask two eight year old children who are neighbours but who
are not related. I chose to interview a boy and a girl. I approached the children’s parents and
explained that I was required to interview two children of the same age and explained what
the interview was about and why I needed to conduct the interview. I then asked the
children if they would be interested and asked the parents if they would be willing to allow
their children to participate in the interview. Once the parents and children agreed I gave

5. each family a copy of the interview questions and the consent form. This would give the
children and parents time to read through the questions and discuss them with each other. I
organised a date with each family and conducted the interviews on different days so as to
take in the details of each interview without confusing the two.
The interview with the 8 year old girl, who I will refer to as Jill, went for 40 minutes. The
interview was conducted in the lounge room with both Jill and Jill’s mother present. Both Jill
and Jill’s mother read and signed the consent form which is attached. Jill’s mother had gone
through the questions with Jill prior to the interview and Jill had written down some answers
to help her answer the questions. I asked Jill each question and wrote answers and notes as
we went. Jill’s mother was very informative and willing to help Jill with expressing her
answers as well as adding her point of view to the answers as the interview progressed.
The interview with the 8 year old boy, who I will refer to as Jack went for about 50 minutes.
The interview was conducted in the dining room with Jack and Jack’s mother both present.
Both Jack and Jack’s mother read and signed the consent form which is attached. Jack had
not read the questions prior to the interview but was very curious as to what the interview
was about and why I was conducting the interview, which I explained to him. Jack’s mother
let Jack answer the questions on his own accord and added her point of view once Jack had
finished answering all of the questions.
THE INSTRUMENT:
Listed below are the questions that I asked during the interviews with both children and
their parents:
1. How old are you?
2. Do you play sport?
3. What are the sports in which you regularly participate in?

6. 4. If you don’t play sport what are some of the reasons?
5. If you don’t engage in any form of physical activity, please explain why this is the
case?
6. Do your parents encourage you to play sport? (Haywood 1995: 306)
7. Is there a difference between your mum and your dad in the way they support and /
or encourage you? (Haywood 1995: 306)
8. If you have older siblings, have they influenced the type of sport you play? (Haywood
1995: 307)
9. If you have younger siblings, are they influenced by the type of sport you play?
(Haywood 1995: 307)
10. Is sport important to you? How and Why? (McPherson & Brown 1988: 271)
11. What types of sport do you like to play? (Haywood 1995: 308; McPherson & Brown
1988: 272)
12. Do your friends play the same sports at you? (Haywood 1995: 308; McPherson &
Brown 1988: 272)
13. Do or did your parents play these sports? (Haywood 1995: 308; McPherson & Brown
1988: 272)
14. How does playing at school in PE and lunchtime / recess times relate to how you like
sport?
15. Do your teachers or your coaches teach you how to best perform basic skills like
running, jumping, kicking, catching and throwing?

7. 16. Have the skill instructions you received at school helped you in any way? How, or if
not why do you think this is so?
17. What do you like best about PE classes?
18. What do you like least about PE classes?
19. How does playing sport make you feel about yourself? (Payne & Isaacs 1995: 42)
RESULTS:
As discussed in the previous section the two children that were interviewed for this paper
are eight years old. The first child is a boy who will be known as Jack, the other child is a girl
who will be known as Jill. Jack and Jill attend the same primary school. Both are in year three
but are in different classes and therefore have different teachers. As discussed by Gallahue
& Ozmun (2006: 53) Jack and Jill should be able to completely fulfil the requirements of the
rudimentary and fundamental movement phases. They should now be moving into the
specialised movement phase, which involves refining the skills developed during the
fundamental phase and applying them to more specialised skills.
At the school Jack and Jill attend it is mandatory that all children participate in physical
education (PE) classes twice a week and take part in sports afternoon once a week. Jill
explained that during PE classes “the teacher usually gets us to do throwing, catching and
kicking games. The teacher shows us what to do first then we all do it together and the
teacher walks around and helps anyone having trouble doing the activity”. Jack also
indicated that in PE class “the teacher shows us how to do the activity and then goes around
and helps others when they don’t know how to do it properly”. The above instruction
conducted by the teachers correspond with what Pangrazi & Beighle (2009: 28) said when
they indicated that all children should be treated as if they have the potential to succeed and

8. that the goal of physical education classes should be to help all students develop physical
skills within the limits of their potential.
Jack and Jill both participate in sport activities at school and outside of school. Jill said she
enjoys PE and sport because “I have fun running around with friends and I like doing
different sports every week”. Jill’s mother added that “when Jill is good at a particular sport
and enjoys the sport they have done at school, Jill will come home and tell me all about it.
School sport gives Jill a taste of what different sports are like”. Jack said he enjoys school
sport because “I like running around and playing ball games”. Both children mentioned that
when the teacher shows them how to do a particular skill it makes it easier to perform the
activity and makes PE and sport more enjoyable. The teachers involved in the PE classes and
sports meet several of the competencies of the National Standards of Physical Education
discussed by Pangrazi & Beighle (2009: 20). These authors also discuss that all children
should be treated as if they have the potential to succeed, which is what Jack and Jill’s
teachers seem to be trying to achieve. The above program also corresponds with what
Haywood (1995: 306) talks about, how teachers and coaches can introduce children to new
and exciting activities which then inspire children to learn all the skills and attitudes
associated with sport.
Outside of school hours Jack plays soccer and Jill does dancing. Jack indicated that he likes
playing soccer because “I like running around, kicking balls and playing with my friends”. Jill
indicated that she likes doing dancing because “I love laughing with my friends and I love
when my mum and dad come and watch my end of year concert”. This shows a close
relationship with what Pangrazi & Beighle (2009: 29) cited when they said “there is no
substitute for allowing young children to participate in physical activity for the sheer
enjoyment and excitement involved in moving and interacting with peers”.

9. Jack and Jill both indicate that their parents encourage them to participate in sporting
activities. When Jill was asked if there was a difference between her parents
encouragement, Jill revealed that “Mum suggests different activities that I could do outside
of school, where dad just agrees with what I ask to do”. Jill’s mother added that “I make sure
I am aware of the different activities available and if I think the activity is something Jill will
enjoy then I will ask her if she would be interested”. When Jack was asked the same
question he said “mum and dad both like me to play soccer so I grow up fit and healthy”.
Jack’s mother added “I make sure Jack is always involved in some type of after school sport
as I feel it is important for his confidence and general morale. Where Jack’s dad would not
push Jack into participating in a sporting activity after school if Jack didn’t ask to do a sport”.
This fits comparatively with Payne & Isaacs (1995: 41) when they discuss how the level of
social support given to a child by their parents greatly influences the level of participation in
physical activity. In most cases parents are the primary influence over a child’s movement
choice and sporting success.
Finally, Jack and Jill both acknowledged that sport makes them feel happy because sport is
fun and we can laugh. The enjoyment described above will certainly boost Jack and Jill’s self
esteem, which in turn leads to higher levels of self esteem and motivation to participate in
physical activity as demonstrated by Haywood 1995: 315.
CONCLUSION:
Jack and Jill are typical of children discussed in the socialisation literature for several
reasons. Firstly, due to the main influence when it comes to participating in physical activity
are parents, teachers, coaches and peers (Payne & Isaacs 1995: 41). The encouragement
given to these children from their parents and teachers ensures their socialisation journey is
a reasonably smooth one. Jack and Jill are fulfilling the development milestones of
socialisation as they are given the opportunity to observe and model others, use trial and

10. error and have several opportunities for social interaction as discussed by the above
authors.
Secondly, Jack and Jill are provided with the appropriate environment and activities to aid
their socialisation development. As Haywood (1995: 309) illustrates those children who have
appropriate play areas, opportunities to be involved in activities and time to practice learned
skills are more likely to continue participating in sporting activities.
Lastly, the enjoyment Jack and Jill experience while participating in sporting activities will
boost their self esteem and motivation to participate in sport now and in the future.
In conclusion, Jack and Jill ideally fit the profile described in the literature. These children
have similar activity, a high self esteem, appropriate activity areas and are encouraged by
significant people around them.

11. REFERENCES
Brustad, R. J. (1996) Attraction to Physical Activity in Urban Schoolchildren: Parental
Socialisation and Gender Influences. In Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, pp.
316-323. Vol. 67, no. 3.
Delaney, T., & Madigan, T. (2009). The Sociology of Sports: an introduction. Retrieved from
http://books.google.com.au/books?
id=YEybKqyfVNwC&pg=PA85&lpg=PA85&dq=socialisation+of+children+into+sport&s
ource=bl&ots=ilmwAIVo3F&sig=S4NmSXqYM5eXOtUF1EJLqTjS_1w&hl=en&ei=j065Tc
qjApCavgOk5MyiAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEoQ6AEw
Bg#v=onepage&q&f=false.
Gallahue, D., & Ozmun, J. (2006) Motor Development: A Theoretical Model in David L.
Gallahue & John C. Ozmun, Understanding Motor Development: Infants, Children,
Adolescents, Adults. pp. 46-60. 6th Ed. New York; London: McGraw-Hill.
Haywood, K.M. (1995) Psychosocial and Cultural Influences in Motor Development. In K. M.
Haywood, Life Span Motor Development, pp. 303-329. 2nd Ed. Edwardstown, SA.
Johnson, V. N. (1989) Children’s Socialization into Sports. In Melpomene Journal, pp. 23-26.
Vol. 8. No. 2.

12. Pangrazi, Robert P., & Beighle, A. (2009) Teaching Children in the Physical Education
Environment. In Robert P. Pangrazi & Aaron Beighle, Dynamic Physical Education for
Elementary School Children. pp. 20 – 34. 16th Ed. San Francisco.
Payne, V. Gregory., & Isaacs, L. (1995) Social and Motor Development. In V. Gregory Payne &
Larry D. Isaacs, Human Motor Development: A Lifespan Approach, pp. 40-61. 3rd Ed.
Mountain View, California: Mayfield.