This groundbreaking work explores masculinity and the body within sports. Through participant observations, sporting life-history interviews, and research with children, Wellard highlights the social processes which impact upon individual constructions and formulations of masculine identity and reviews these in relation to broader debates on gender, embodiment and sporting participation.

Ian Wellard is Associate Director of the Centre for Sport, Physical Education and Activity Research (SPEAR) at Canterbury Christ Church University, UK. His research explores sociological aspects of sport, the body and gender. He has previously edited a book on Rethinking Gender and Youth Sport for Routledge and has also published articles relating to his research in international journals.

1. Introduction: Reflexive Approaches to Sport, Masculinities and the Body 2. Sport and Masculinities 3. Bodies and Masculinities 4. 'Expected Masculine Performances' in Mainstream Sports: Serious Competitors, Natural Athletes and Casual Enthusiasts. 5. Young Bodies, Schools and Sport 6. A Lifetime of Sporting Bodily Practices 7. Non-Heterosexual Sporting Bodies 8. Conclusions: Looking at the Bigger Picture. Appendix.