Abstract
Aesthetic Sport Experiences (ASE) are subjective, personal connections between the participant and the activity. They are the inside experience had by the person who is participating and include the smells, sights, sounds, and feel of moving. This inside view may be a key motivating factor for participating in sport/physical activity. Unfortunately, in kinesiology settings we rarely discuss the ASEs, focusing instead on objective outcomes. Further, subjective experiences are rarely studied in research. The current study used a qualitative methodology with a narrative approach to capture the ASEs of university students studying kinesiology. Participants provided rich descriptions of their ASEs, offering insight and highlighting the meaning encapsulated in this aspect of sport/physical activity. As kinesiology students are the future leaders within sport/physical activity, this aspect is critical to how they will value, teach, and lead sport/physical activity in the future. Therefore, creating space and giving time to understand ASE broadens the meaning of sport/physical activity, and directs attention to the underlying meaning of why play occurs.
Presenters
Elaine FosterAssistant Professor, Human Performance and Sport Studies, Idaho State University, Idaho, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Sporting Cultures and Identities
KEYWORDS
Meaning, Motivation, Purpose of Sport, Aesthetics
