Volleyball with a Butt : I Am Jumping Inside!'

Abstract

In Adapted Physical Activity (APA) field is it widely ac- cepted that physical activity is inherently empowering.However, to date, tools to empirically assess the valid- ity of this assumption are scarce and underdeveloped(Hutzler, 2008; Reid, 2003; Silva & Howe, 2012). Drawingupon a three-year ethnographic investigation into theculture of sitting volleyball (SV) in the United Kingdom(UK) aimed at evaluating the impact of the sport on thepersonal capabilities of players with impairments, we de- fend that the human development focus of capabilities approach offers ethical, conceptual and methodologicalguidance essential to evaluate APA potential to promotethe empowerment of its public. Because this approachis grounded in the defense of essential values of a lifeworthy of human dignity such as freedom, agency andself-determination (Nussbaum, 2006, 2011; Sen, 1999,2009), this connection would also help APA to reinforceits social legitimacy. The present paper outlines thisstudy s methodological design and presents a summaryof significant findings.