Ice and Nets: Comparative Study of Structure, Socialization and Culture in Youth Figure Skating and Basketball

This comparative study examines how different sporting environments shape the athletic identities of young athletes through the following sociological perspectives from The Sociology of Sport: An Introduction: sporting structures, socialization and culture. Drawing from semi-structured interviews with a total of eight interviewees consisting of athletes, coaches and parents in China, alongside the observance of six training sessions, the research investigates the nuanced dynamics of individual and team sports. Findings suggest different structures of sporting systems, individual versus group, create distinct expectations for young athletes from different perspectives. While figure skating emphasizes personal skills and individual responsibility, basketball focuses on collective teamwork and communication. Yet, these boundaries are not completely binary. Individual figure skaters can build close peer relationships during training, and basketball players need personal responsibilities within team roles. Furthermore, socialization is not a one-way transmission from the sporting environment to the athlete. Athletes may develop agency to critique and transform their sporting environment when stepping into roles of leadership or coaching. Overall, the study argues that young athletes are indeed shaped differently by the distinct individual or team sports they participate in. Moreover, the study also demonstrates how the agency and structure of individual and team sports interact.