Routledge Handbook of Sport and New Media, Billings, Andrew

The Routledge Handbook of Youth Sport is a comprehensive survey of the latest research into young people's involvement in sport. Drawing on a wide diversity of disciplines, including sociology, psychology, policy studies, coaching, physical education and physiology, the book examines the importance of sport during a key transitional period of our lives, from the later teenage years into the early twenties, and therefore helps us develop a better understanding of the social construction of young people's lives.

The book covers youth sport in all its forms, from competitive game-contests and conventional sport to recreational activities, exercise and lifestyle sport, and at all levels, from elite competition to leisure time activities and school physical education. It explores youth sport across the world, in developing and developed countries, and touches on some of the most significant themes and issues in contemporary sport studies, including physical activity and health, lifelong participation, talent identification and development, and safeguarding and abuse.

No other book brings together in one place such a breadth and depth of material on youth sport or the engagement of young people in physical activity. The Routledge Handbook of Youth Sport is therefore important reading for all advanced students, researchers, practitioners and policy-makers with an interest in youth sport, youth culture, sport studies or physical education.

The book is divided into two volumes: Volume Two - Celebrating the Games, examines the period of competition and immediately afterwards, covering key topics such as:

• London welcomes the world - hospitality and the look of the games
• experiencing the games -spectators, tourists, volunteers, shoppers, viewers
• media and communications
• running the games
• creating Olympic celebrities
• protesting the games
• commerce, retail and consumption
• documenting London 2012 in films and books
• the legacy of the 2012 Games for London, the UK and the Olympic Movement.

Richly illustrated with the personal accounts of key stakeholders, from sports administrators and politicians to athletes and spectators, and including essential data and evocative visual material, this book is essential reading for anybody with a personal or professional interest in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, global culture or the development of sport.

"The ability to produce a world-beating time is about how you use your mind to allow your body to function with freedom and fluency."

Many athletes grow up with the philosophy that their mental approach to performance is fixed. They do the same things over and over again and expect excellence. But we know that mental approaches are not fixed. They are extremely changeable and adaptable, and therefore the greatest athletes can develop their mental approaches to fulfil their potential. Athletes who can deal with pressure enjoy their sport more, achieve excellence and are resilient to the demands of competition and training.

Tipping The Balance offers contemporary evidence-based and highly practical mental strategies that help an athlete to develop the crucial mental skills that enable them to thrive under pressure, perform consistently when it matters most, and enjoy the challenge of the big event.

This book is about empowering you - the athlete - no matter what level you perform at. In this book you will discover the secrets of how the world's greatest athletes draw on cutting edge psychological skills to use what's between their ears to maximize performance.

Who is the book for? This book will show you that pressure is a perception. No matter what sport you play or what level you perform at, this book shows you how to develop a winning mental edge. It does not matter whether you are targeting the Olympic marathon or a local 5k, whether you are a weekend golfer or a tour professional, a local tennis player or a top 250 athlete - this book is for all athletes at all levels, across all sports, who want to become more successful.

Perhaps you are not an athlete, but you work closely with athletes. Maybe you are a coach, a parent, or performance director and sport scientist looking to develop evidence-based and effective psychological training and development programs for your athletes. You too will find the contents of this highly practical book useful as a key stakeholder in the performance of athletes.

Note: This is the sister publication to "What Business Can Learn From Sport Psychology: Ten Lessons for Peak Professional Performance". Content elements across both titles are similar and readers are, therefore, advised to choose whichever title is most appropriate for them.