Abstract

The disparity between established ethnic categories, and more complex descriptions of ethnic identity is explored in this work, in relation to young people involved in school sport. In order to achieve the research aim a mixed method approach was utilised combining grounded theory modelling, plus adopting a critical realist stance. Initial data identified 29 ethnic minority young people as determined by parents / guardians. The young people utilised a self-classification system through a questionnaire and were then interviewed. The results indicated a diversity of stated identity for all the participants, with the interviews revealing the greatest degree of variety in relation to hyphenated identities, which was closely linked to place of birth current home and religion. Sports policy which identifies ethnic minorities as an homogenous group collectively fail to distinguish between the diversity of the population. There is an obligation for policy makers to consider adaptations of ethnic categories to allow respondents to state their own identity rather than conforming to a prescriptive list. Through focusing on individuals and their stated identities, policy should steer practice to enable research to endeavour to study more closely defined groups which reflect identity, and seek to explore each of these in detail.