It is against this context that this study examines how learners from diverse racial, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds achieve sporting excellence in this transforming society. I argue that in a transforming society it is the filtration process of sporting excellence that has benefited only a select few learners and uniquely contributed to the achievement of sporting excellence.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My family, without whom my life would be meaningless; my loving husband Bharat and my darling daughters Priyanka and Jesmika. You have left a wonderful legacy to all your grandchildren, Priyanka, Karishma, Khevna, Darshika, Daveena, Tejas, Jesmika, Hirina, Kieran, Tejal, Mairav, Ruhan and Diya.
DEDICATION
Introduction
2 KwaZulu-Natal is the third smallest province, accounting for 8% of the land in South Africa. Gould & Weinberg (2011, p. 4) define sport and exercise psychology as “the scientific study of people and their behavior in sport and exercise activities and the practical application of that knowledge”.
Research focus and questions
The purpose of this question was to identify students who excel in sports and to gain insight into the students and the sports they play. It outlined and painted a picture of the students' identities as they journeyed towards sporting achievement.
Organisation of thesis
Chapter seven, the last chapter in the study, provides a theoretical explanation of why sporting excellence is achieved in a changing society. I advocate three concepts; the spatial displacements, spatial displacements and spatial upheavals that emerged from the study and use the analogy of a filtration process to show how students navigated these social spaces so that the achievement of sporting excellence in a uniquely South African changing society becomes a reality.
Conclusion
Introduction
13 There is a lack of literature on school-based students who achieve sporting excellence and the context in which they achieve this. The focus seems to be on the psychological and mental aspects of elite athletes and their trials and tribulations in achieving sporting excellence.
Sporting excellence defined
Personal excellence is described as excellence that is fostered outside of the elite sport setting. In this research, sporting excellence is defined as learners who have achieved provincial colors in sport in the KZN province.
Psychology of sporting excellence
South African researcher Burnett (2003)15 focused her research on “the rationale for the multifaceted development of the student athlete in the African context”, stating that in the high-profile competitive world of global sport, the athlete comes from a relatively young age under exorbitant pressure to excel and compete successfully in the international arena and develop both as a person and professionally. The socialization of athletes is an important aspect in achieving sporting excellence and is discussed in the next section of the literature review.
Socialisation and sporting excellence
Selected literature will inform the research about the students themselves, their understanding and interpretation of the world around them, the influences of others and their part in the socialization process. Her focus was mainly on identity formation as an integral part of the socialization process of athletes.
Schooling and the curriculum
The revision of Curriculum 2005 provides the basis for the development of the National Curriculum Statement for General Education and Training (Grades R-9) and the National Curriculum Statement for Grades 10-12 (Department of Education (DOE), 2008). 21 The introduction of the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) in schools was the end of a long process of restructuring the education system in South Africa.
Apartheid politics and sporting excellence
In the next section, the literature review sets the stage for the changing political landscape of sport in South Africa, and this is followed by a selection of biographies of sporting heroes who excelled in sport in the various eras of South African history. In 1973, the South African Council of Sport (SACOS) was formed in the country, and together with SANROC campaigned for the total isolation of South African sport.
Biographies of South African sporting heroes
- Papwa Sewgolum
- Herschelle Gibbs
30 Until 1991, the Group Areas Act ensured that most of the land in South Africa belonged to the whites. Achieving sports was an easy path for Jonty as the country's laws protected him from politics and he was given the best opportunities at home and at school.
Transformation and sporting excellence
According to Hargreaves (1997), there were huge gender inequalities in the country's sporting structures. Political changes have resulted in the transfer of political power from the minority to the majority.
Conceptual framing
One's successful performance of all mental skills on the Wheel of Excellence is dependent on one's ability to focus appropriately. One must focus in the present, the here and now for the duration of the action-oriented part of one's performance".
Conclusion
Jonty Rhodes biography on the other hand portrays an ideal environment for sporting excellence to thrive. He was completely protected in a country deeply divided by one of the most oppressive regimes of the 20th century.
Introduction
The aim of the qualitative research approach is to understand the subjective world of the participants. In order to maintain and preserve the integrity of the phenomenon of sporting excellence that is investigated in this study, an attempt is made to recognize and understand the learner from within.
Data production plan
The purpose of the interview is to obtain rich, detailed data that can be used in analysis. It is not the interviewer's role to express personal opinions, perceptions or feelings. The interviews were started after the participants were informed of the nature and purpose of the interview (the letters for each of them are in Appendices 1, 3, 5 and 8).
Selection of participants
In this study, all students and the schools they attended were assigned pseudonyms to ensure anonymity. 35 Racial categories are used in this study because they are essential to understanding South African society. The students selected for this study were in the FET phase of the school system (grades 10–12).
Data analysis
Storytelling as a feature of human experience of the world has a temporal context, a spatial context and the context of other people. Verbatim responses used in qualitative studies (Ball, 1990; Bowe, Ball, & Gold, 1992) were used extensively in student narratives. Telling students' stories enabled the identification of emerging themes, which are analyzed in Chapter Five.
Validity and reliability
The emerging themes set the stage for theorizing sporting excellence in a changing society in Chapter Seven. In this study, validity was enhanced by careful sampling of participants and ensuring that data from students, provincial coaches and significant others were appropriately transcribed and analysed.
Limitation of the study
Conclusion
Introduction
The structure of the learners’ stories
These groupings structure the analysis of the students' narratives and draw out the similarities and differences experienced based on gender and type of sport played. The 39 former HoD schools will now be referred to as former Indian schools to help make the text easier to read. 74 The stories of four of the students (Yamka, Brendon, Nkosi and Jemma) end with professional evaluations by Professor Srinivasan S.
Girls’ team sport
- Yamka – netball
- Theola – netball
- Drea – hockey
- Synopsis: Girls’ team sports
They don't want to be like the rich girls at school who have everything. Sometimes there are white girls who really deserve to be on the team but don't get picked because of the quota system. I train, I'm a good player, I have the potential to be in the KZN team and the SA team.
Boys’ team sport
- Brendon – soccer
- Nkosi - soccer
- Jarrett – cricket
- Sekani – rugby
- Synopsis: Boys’ team sorts
Tholethu does not feel as disadvantaged as the children in the township who are suffering. He tries to be the best and that's what I want to do in the future. They look up to the senior players in the team as well as South African sports stars.
Girls’ individual sport
- Synopsis: Girls’ individual sport
She is still on track with the goals she has set for the London Olympics in 2012. She is very grateful for the support she gets from coaches and her grandmother, who is 68, has been the most important person in her life . She also attributes positive meaning to punishment – she sees it as a stepping stone to success rather than traumatic.
Boys’ individual sport
- Siani – athletics
- Daryl – swimming
- Synopsis: Boys’ individual sports
I was born in Intuzuma, which is in Kwa-Mashu.63 It is a township that is quite developed and has proper houses. With swimming being so white, it's so strange to see an Indian guy or black guy or brown guy swimming.” With swimming, it's quite good compared to overseas countries, but you have to get your experience, like Ryk and Roland did overseas.
Conclusion
A brief overview is given of each of the five themes created by the students' stories, which will be expanded in detail in the next chapter. The dedication and sacrifices of parents, coaches and significant others play a vital role in the sports journey of students. The effect of the quota system and the presence of racism have created an increased burden for students.
Introduction
- Personality
- Self-efficacy
- Goal setting
- Family
- The coach
- Significant others
- PE curriculum
- Sport versus academics
- Talent search and selection
- Promoting team spirit
- Role models
- Elitism in sport
- Learners’ socio-economic background
- Race and racism
- Quota system and transformation
He is one of the few white footballers playing club football in the township. These refer to the relationship between the experiences of the student or the students' families and the experiences at school. 148 The students are aware of the influence they have on both the junior players and the students at school.
Conclusion
155 is what makes 'crossing the finish line' possible, the final hurdle to achieving sporting excellence in a divided society. It is through these salient ideas that the bonds will begin to form around what contributes to sporting excellence in a transforming society. These salient concepts are essential because they qualify the impending theory building in the final chapter.
Introduction
The resolute self
158 It is the role-related behavior that dominates the sports identities of students and is a distinguishing characteristic of students who excel in sports. The fifth element of excellence is mental readiness, reflected in student data such as: I am so positive (Y6); I hate knowing that I didn't give my best (Y7); I am very competitive (Da1); I take control at the crease (C1). The above seven elements provided an analytical framework for the analysis of the sports characteristics of the students.
Reliance on people
There seems to be a change in the attitude of parents of the learners who play netball. They play the most important role in the success or failure, satisfaction or frustration, joy or disappointment of the sports experience for the athletes. Most of the teachers love netball and they play it to encourage their learners (NC3).
The White school magnets and migration
Talent was sought from the learners from the disadvantaged areas and offered scholarships and hostels to attend the former white schools. Of the three Indian learners, two attend former white schools and one the former Indian school. The football coach believes that the change in the PE curriculum has affected the skill and fitness levels of the learners: I am in favor of bringing back PE.
Unwavering nation building
In the South African context, this sense of identity provides a valuable vehicle in nation building. Most of the learners indicated that they see their role models in action, especially those in the senior. In the South African context, this sense of identity provides a valuable vehicle in nation building.
Social and racial diversity
I think the kids who come from the townships were born with football in them (SoC8). The athletics coach expresses his opinion about the differences between the athletes from rural and urban areas: The children from the rural areas are not confident enough to come to the city and participate. The athletes from the rural areas feel intimidated by those from the city, reinforced by.
