Sport Policy and Development

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 7
  
• Convenor and tutor: Richard Tacon
• Assessment: a 4000-word essay (100%)

This module provides you with a good understanding of sport policy and sports development in the UK and around the world. You will develop knowledge of how sport is structured in different countries, why this is, what role governments play in sport, and other related issues. The module will explore questions such as: Why do some countries do better in elite sport than others? Does hosting mega sporting events really lead to more people playing sport? How does research evidence inform policy making?

The module will cover the evolution of sport policy in different countries and the current debates that dominate it. It will also look at sports development: How can sport be used to improve communities? How should sports development projects best be designed? What are the main issues when sports organisations are working with national and local governments, commercial sponsors, charities and NGOs? Overall, the module will enable you to think critically about the way sport is organised and ‘used’ in different countries and will develop your knowledge of what different sport organisations do and how they fit together.

By the end of this module, you will:

• understand key issues in sport policy and development
• have a critical understanding of political ideologies and their relevance to understanding sport policy and development
• be familiar with a range of theoretical perspectives for analysing sport policy
• understand the historical development of sport policy.
• be able to explain the structure of the sport industry in the UK and the role of government, national sport agencies and other relevant sports organisations.