New Playing Fields

Abstract

Although stories about sport were written as early as the Olympian Odes of Ancient Greece, the genre and academic study of sport literature is still in its relative nascence. But although sport lit- erature courses have only been taught at postsecondary institutions for the last forty years, their remarkable popularity and potential for interdisciplinary study have made them a fixture at many academic institutions. As a sport literature instructor, I have honed my own best practices for teaching sport literature, developed in response to the unique challenges and opportunities as- sociated with this area of study. This commentary discusses the evolving field of sport literature, in terms of teaching and learning practices. By illuminating key areas of consideration, includ- ing definitions, objects of study, and teacher-student expectations, I outline how sport literature can provide students and instructors with a more open, progressive, and mutable model that car- ries forward into their work. Ultimately then, this commentary explores the unique potential of teaching sport literature and finding new and positive approaches for teachers across disciplines.