Invisible and Visible Sports Planning for Youth Health and Development: Ideological Factors in the Family Sports Policy of Chinese Families during Covid-19 Yonghua (Yoka) WANG (a)- Qingyue LIU (b)
a.: PhD Candidate, Department of Education, University of Bath, UK
b.: College of Physical Education, Hunan Normal University, China
Abstract
Youth health and development have attracted more attention in the domains of sport and education worldwide, especially after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since 2016, a wide range of sports policies have been introduced and implemented at the national, district and school levels in China to enhance children^s health and development. It is noticeable that families and parents play a crucial and active role in promoting their children^s health and development. However, limited existing research has explored Chinese families^ family sports policy. In the study, Spolsky^s (2004) model is employed as a theoretical framework to examine how family sports policies are planned and developed in China during Covid-19. In particular, the research aims to investigate how sports are perceived and valued by Chinese children^s parents. The core focus of the analysis is the parental ideology that underpins their family sports policy. It further explores what factors contribute to the formulation and development of China^s family sports policies. The qualitative study applies semi-structured interviews to investigate sports beliefs, sports management and sports practices in China^s urban families. Practical implications will be put forward for parents, physical education teachers, sports policymakers and relevant stakeholders in China and a broader context.
Keywords: sports planning, parents^ ideology, family sports policy, youth health and development, Covid-19 pandemic
