European Sports Development Network
The European Sports Development Network (ESDN) is a not-for profit organisation of individuals and groups in the field of sports development. It was set up through the SHAPE research group at Nottingham Trent University.
The ESDN was founded in October 2008, with the initial aim of forming a collaborative network of practitioners, academics, and policy makers from around the world, who specialise in sport and physical activity development.
Our aims are:
- to encourage collaboration and partnerships in sports development 'practice' in Europe and beyond;
- to share theoretical and conceptual developments in sports development and physical activity promotion;
- to set up and plan symposiums, seminars and events to share discourse, debate and to challenge the traditional boundaries of the field;
- to develop longer term, a sustainable network of researchers in the field of sports development and physical activity policy and practice.
The principal output of the ESDN is an annual symposium with up to 25 presentations. In 2012 the ESDN, in partnership with the Leisure Studies Association published a collection of research papers entitled Harris, S., Bell, B., Adams, A., and Mackintosh, C. (editors) (2012) Sport for Sport? Practical and Theoretical Insights into Sports Development, Brighton, LSA.
Membership is informal and provides a mailing list for future events, latest research projects and opportunities. See our Contact us section to register your details.
