Title: Cultural diversity and social class issues in junior elite basketball

Authors: Gina Mendoza, Chris Hallinan, Michael Burke

Addresses: Centre for Aging, Rehabilitation, Exercise and Sport Sciences, School of Human Movement, Recreation and Performance, Victoria University, P.O. Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia. ' Centre for Aging, Rehabilitation, Exercise and Sport Sciences, School of Human Movement, Recreation and Performance, Victoria University, P.O. Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia. ' Centre for Aging, Rehabilitation, Exercise and Sport Sciences, School of Human Movement, Recreation and Performance, Victoria University, P.O. Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia

Abstract: Sport migration research has tended to focus upon international labour market transactions involving adults. The sport of junior basketball is an unlikely site but actually offers the most liberal sport access and opportunities for young women. In this research we studied the factors associated with migration among the youth sport marketplace. Furthermore, we investigated issues associated with class difference and the role of parents in player mobility. An analysis of factors is provided based around cultural diversity and social class. Our findings reveal that social class differences had a bearing on the outcome. Furthermore, parents act as player-agents throughout the entire process.

Keywords: cultural diversity; player migration; parents; social class; basketball; junior sport; sport management; youth sport.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2007.011390

International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 2007 Vol.2 No.1/2, pp.59 - 68

Published online: 30 Nov 2006 *

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