Supporting Rural Youth’s Post-School Transitions: Tapping Into Social Capital in Local Sporting Clubs

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 1:30 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Cultivating Community and Empowerment: Supporting Rural Youth and Diverse Identities (Table 4)

Abstract

This paper examines how local sporting clubs in rural Australia support youth during their transition out of compulsory schooling. It explores how these clubs, as significant social institutions, provide essential information, mentorship, and a sense of community, helping young people navigate the decision to either stay in their town or pursue further education elsewhere. Applying Putnam's social capital theory, the ethnographic study reveals how these clubs build both bridging and bonding social capital. Bridging capital is facilitated through returning players and connections with local professionals, while bonding capital is strengthened by role models and informal support systems. The paper offers insights into how such community-based institutions can positively impact youth transitions, providing implications for similar institutions in international contexts.

Author

• Melyssa Fuqua, University of Melbourne