Social sports projects for adolescents in Brazil: impacts, implications and barriers

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In the context of social projects, there is a great impact on the development of participants, when it occurs with children and adolescents, the gains in the physiological and psycho-emotional aspects can be even greater. However, in the current political situation, there is a decrease in support for public policies related to sport. OBJECTIVE: Given this sporting context, the objective of this essay is to combine Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Theory and the Conceptual Health Model to elucidate the impacts and implications of youth participation in social sports projects, as well as to contribute to the planning, implementation and evaluation of actions of a social project. METHODS: This is a theoretical essay that proposes to systematize the impacts of a social sports project on the development of young people and to demonstrate the indicators that a project can present to justify its functioning. RESULTS: Theories support the arguments that justify the importance of public investment in sports participation as a protective factor for the development of young people, especially those in situations of vulnerability. The development of organized actions that can work in the long run is essential for this. CONCLUSION: Social projects must be organized through actions that develop socio-emotional skills, invest in the relationship of coaches and athletes, in the expression of feelings and in the possibility of long-term functioning to ensure sustainability and meet the interests of all stakeholders. actors involved, especially the participants. It is concluded that social projects must be based on theories that support their actions. The positive impacts, in socio-emotional aspects, are essential in the lives of young people, which helps to protect the existence of crises, improve self-concept and promote self-determination.