From baseball and hockey to golf and gymnastics, this is a unique collection of stories of people involved in sports. Researchers interviewed athletes and supporters, including elite athletes and little league parents, to explore a wide range of physical activity. The contributions not only show how sport studies can contribute to the wider study of society, but also describe the methodologies, difficulties and challenges involved in research of this kind. "Inside Sports" is divided into four sections that cover the major social processes of sports experiences for different people in different settings: being introduced to sports; becoming an athlete; doing sports; and life beyond the playing field. It includes discussion questions, film and video suggestions, and lists of further reading. This book uncovers dimensions of experience that challenge popular beliefs about sport participation and its impact on people's lives.

List of contributors, Preface, Acknowledgments, Introduction, PART 1 Early experiences: being introduced to sports, PART 2 Experience and identity: becoming an athlete, PART 3 Deep in the experience: doing sports, PART 4 Transition experiences: facing life beyond the playing field, Index