Life skills development through sport: current status and future directions
Abstract
This review is designed to summarize and critique current life skills through sport research. In particular, life skills are defined, the conditions needed to examine life skills development are explored, and the possible theoretical explanations of how, when, under what conditions and why life skills develop in sport participants are discussed. A heuristic model of coaching life skills is offered. To conclude, future research directions are forwarded and include the need for: (a) quantitative and qualitative research; (b) the development of valid life skills through sport measures; (c) an examination of sport program type differences; (d) evaluation research; (e) longitudinal studies; (f) studies focusing on identifying theoretical explanations for the life skill development sport participation link; (g) the utilization of experimental designs; and (h) an examination of the transferability of life skills. The importance of conducting this type of research for both theoretical and practical reasons is emphasized.
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Sport-specific frameworks of life skills (Gould & Carson, 2008; Petitpas et al., 2005) were the next most widely used perspective, cited in seven reviewed studies.
“Sport-specific frameworks of life skills (Gould & Carson, 2008; Petitpas et al., 2005) were the next most widely used perspective, cited in seven studies.”
From A grounded theory of positive youth development through sport based on results from a qualitative meta-study (2017) · cites this paper as Gould & Carson, 2008
Cited by
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Holt, N. L., Neely, K. C., Slater, L. G., Camiré, M., Côté, J., Fraser-Thomas, J., MacDonald, D., Strachan, L., & Tamminen, K. A. (2017) · International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology · doi:10.1080/1750984x.2016.1180704 · Cited by 720 · see citing works
“In another important article based on a narrative review of the PYD literature, Gould and Carson (2008) presented a heuristic model explaining how life skills are coached through sport.”
BackgroundInfluentialPesce, C. (2012) · Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology · doi:10.1123/jsep.34.6.766 · Cited by 383 · see citing works
Kuettel, A., Pedersen, A. K., & Larsen, C. H. (2021) · Psychology of Sport and Exercise · doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101837 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Breslin, M., & Mitchell, J. (2025) · Scottish Educational Review · doi:10.1163/27730840-bja10032
- Authors
- Gould, D., & Carson, S.
- Affiliations
- Michigan State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Gould, Daniel
- Venue
- International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2008-03
- Volume
- 1
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 58-78
- ISSN
- 1750-984X (ISSN-L)
- 1750-9858
- OpenAlex
- W2120518192
- Cited by
- 948
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 57 · 2025: 68 · 2024: 62 · 2023: 70 · 2022: 85 · 2021: 77 · 2020: 96 · 2019: 65 · 2018: 53 · 2017: 60 · 2016: 61 · 2015: 38 · 2014: 40 · 2013: 37 · 2012: 39
- FWCI
- 37.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Youth Development and Social Support
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Physical Education and Pedagogy
- Keywords
- life skills, sports participation, life skills development, life skills assessment, longitudinal study
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