Framing quality physical education: the elite sport model or Sport Education?

Abstract

It is commonplace for politicians and the media to refer to elite sport as a means of framing discussions about physical education. This point is demonstrated by reference to recent policy documents and media reports containing statements by Tony Blair and Tessa Jowell. Their collective perspective is labelled the commonsense consensus on physical education and is the focus of a critique. Research evidence is assembled to show that some of the key assumptions of the commonsense consensus are factually incorrect and ethically questionable. Recent research on the practices of a professional football academy is presented to argue that elite sport is the wrong place to look for a model for framing quality physical education. Traces of these practices from elite sports such as football are identified in school physical education. The paper concludes with a brief description of the philosophy behind the Sport Education model as an alternative to the elite sport model and as an example of how sport may be retained in physical education in a way that stresses desirable educational and ethical outcomes. This paper was accepted under the editorship of Susan Capel.