Promoting Positive Youth Development and Life Skills in Youth Sports: Challenges and Opportunities Amidst Increasing Professionalization
Defri Mulyana (a*), Adang Suherman (b)

a) Sekolah Pasca Sarjana Pendidikan Olahraga S3,Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Jalan Setiabudi No 229 Bandung 40154
b) Sekolah Pasca Sarjana Pendidikan Olahraga S3,Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Jalan Setiabudi No 229 Bandung 40154

Abstract

Abstract
Positive youth development is a strength-based approach in which life skills are recognized as desirable assets that prepare youth to function as productive members of society. In many countries, increasing attention is paid to teaching life skills through sports. Still, researchers have warned of the dangers of believing unthinkingly about the virtues of sport participation. This research offers a brief commentary on the challenges and opportunities in promoting positive youth development and life skills amidst the increasing professionalization of youth sports. In the first part of this article, a case is made for tempering our expectations about the intrinsic developmental value of sport and instead focusing on youth issues for life skills and experiential learning opportunities. In the second part of this article, coach education and the professionalization of youth sports are examined as contemporary challenges in terms of the dilemmas they create and the opportunities they present.

Keywords: Positive Youth Development dan Life Skills

Topic: Youth Development through Sport