Tackling youth discomfort with sport and bodily practices: an Italian case study

The research concerns the relationship between bodily-physical practices, sport, and youth discomfort. The main research question has been to understand if and how sport, physical activities and bodily practices can be considered educational experiences, and effective in dealing with youth discomfort to improve their wellbeing, quality of life, and capabilities. Literature highlights two main tendencies: the first is giving for granted the beneficial effects of sport practices in vulnerable youth; the second presents a more critical approach highlighting the lack of longitudinal studies and evidence. Starting from these considerations, valuable references can be found in pedagogical and sociological literature. From 2019 until 2021, the research group monitored two programs, started immediately before the pandemic, carried out in Bergamo (Italy) by two sport organizations running educational services involving disadvantaged young people in sport-based projects. Youths have practiced different activities also becoming members of sports teams. The aim of the programs was to empower them through and towards sport and physical activity. The research group have monitored and evaluated the progress and results of the two programs through field observations (n=35), meeting observation (n=23), interviews (n=3) and focus groups (n=6). The purpose has been to identify success criteria and limits of the interventions in the perspective of the sustainability, in terms of duration of sport practice, of the outcomes. The research conclusions highlight that, to be successful, an intervention should be durable, integrated with the opportunities given by the welfare system, managed by social educators and sport operators with shared competences. One of the most remarkable actions of one intervention has been the organization of a joint training for educators and coaches assessed as prodromal to the success of the project.