Recreation and Leisure Studies

A

Americans' Use of Time Project 
A longitudinal study from 1965 to the present that examines the changing nature of use of time, including leisure activities. Located at the University of Maryland, USA. See also ICPSR Data.

B

Bibliography of Leisure Constraints Research 
This unique bibliography, compiled by Ed Jackson (University of Alberta, Canada), focuses on constraints in using leisure facilities/resources. Last updated: 1996.

C

• Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (associated with Active Living in Canada) 
  A national research agency concerned with advising, educating, and informing Canadians and professionals about the importance of leading healthy, active lifestyles. Sites includes survey results, calls for research proposals and online sources for communicating results.
• Cyberwonders Travel 
  A resource for academics and professional on tourism and recreation, and a guide for the traveller/tourist. The resources are organized by continent and coutries. Editor: Renee Dopplick (George Washington Univ., USA).

F

FUTRO-network
A Dutch network organized around fundamental research on time-space dynamics in recreation and tourism.

H

• Harris, Dave (University College of St Mark and St John, U.K.)
  Online articles written by Dave Harris and other scholars.
• History of Tents
  Manuscripts and other items depicting tents from the 1st century to the 18th century. Editor: Sthephen Fancis Wyley.

I

Institute for Integrative Tourism and Leisure Research (IITF) 
A non-university institution for research and education in the area of sutainability in tourism and regional development. Based in Zürich, Switzerland. German and English version.

L

• Lebensfürung im Wandel
  A network of scientists devoted to the sociological research on the conduct of everyday life.
• Leisure Information Network 
  A government site at Ontario, Canada which serves leisure professionals. Includes a recreation database, bulletin board, career center, news and events related to leisure. English and French version.
• Leisure Research Symposium
  Presentations from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) annual national Congress. Maintained by Daniel D. McLean, Indiane University Department of Recreation and Park Administration, U.S.A.
• Leisure Studies Webpage
  A site created on behalf of the Australian and New Zealand Association for Leisure Studies (ANZALS) and maintained by the School of Leisure Studies, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia. Coordinator: Denis Coleman.
  • LeisureNet 
    An email discussion list for researchers, scholars and professionals with interests in the many areas in the field of leisure studies or recreation.
  • Leisure Studies Journals
  • International Leisure and Recreation Studies Associations
  • Web Links

M

Morgan, K.B.
Getting Lost: 'Isolation is the Answer'
A thoughtful article on the need and desire for isolation and its psychological, physical and social benefits. Links isolation needs to existence and maintenance of wilderness areas. Bibliography provided. Maintained by Hiking in Colorado.

N

National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)
An American association that supports parks, recreation and environmental conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all people.

O

Outdoor Recreation Research 
Online information on wilderness and natural areas recreation, nature tourism, psychological and sociological aspects of outdoor recreation, ecological effects of outdoor recreation, and visitor education. The page also contains links to other resources associated with recreation and the outdoors. Editor: Yu-Fai Leung (Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management).

P

• Park, Recreation and Tourism Resources (PRTR) - Michigan State University, USA.
• Polling Report: Work and Play 
  An independent organization which reports on surveys of public opinion in the U.S., has poll results on issues related to time spent on leisure and types of leisure activities.

R

• Robinson, John - Dpt. of Sociology, University of Maryland, USA
  The Irrelevance of Time
  A closer look at leisure.
• Russe, Ruth (Department of Recreation and Park Administration, Indiana University, USA)
  Public Park and Recreation Trends: A Status Report 
  A review of literature, both academic and governmental.

Travel Guides

• Rough Guides to Travel 
  The complete text of 'The Rough Guide', but without commercial adds.
• Rough Guides 
  A publisher of travel guides.
• Time Out 
  Complete texts of paper travel guides. Guides of the world's top 34 cities.
• Virtual Tourist
  A map-based interface to City.Net.

Academic Departments

• Academy of Leisure Sciences 
  The Academy of Leisure Sciences undertakes various projects related to leisure and recreation studies. These include publication of a series of "White Papers" on leisure, recreation and tourism and co-sponsorship of an annual Future Scholars program.
• Centre for Leisure and Tourism Studies (CELTS)
  An independent research centre for the leisure and tourism industries at the University of North London. The site provides research papers and links to associated organizations.
• Centre for Recreation and Tourism Studies - Wageningen Agricultural University, Netherlands
• Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  Information on program, faculty and staff. Included is a good reference page on women and leisure.
• Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies - University of Waterlooo, Ontario, Canada
  Contains a usefull page with Resource Material
• Health, Leisure and Human Performance Research Institute - University of Manitoba, Canada. 
  Maintained by Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation Studies. Conducts and communicate the results of research on human movement and leisure behavior, including the psychological and social aspects of health, leisure. Includes Research groups, directories, labs, graduate programs and newsletters.
• Leisure Science/Leisure Studies 
  Ph. D. programs in leisure science. A service provided by the Laboratory for Leisure, Tourism & Sport, University of Connecticut, USA.
• Recreation Studies - Ashland University
• School of Leisure, Sport & Tourism 
  University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.
• Tourism Science/Tourism Studies 
  Ph. D. programs in trourism science. A service provided by the Laboratory for Leisure, Tourism & Sport, University of Connecticut, USA.
• Western Laboratory for Leisure Research (WLLR) 
  A research laboratory, based at the University of Utah, U.S.A., which facilitates research on basic and applied leisure issues. Has support services for funding, research design and implementation. Conducts workshops and conferences.

Professional Sport Associations

• Canadian Association for Leisure Studies (CALS) 
  A a relatively informal organization of Canadian and international scholars and practitioners who share an interest in recreation and leisure research and the delivery of leisure services. Provides information on CALS, and links to similar national and international organizations and programs in recreation and leisure studies.
• European Association for Sport Management (EASM)
  An independent association of individuals involved or interested in the management of sport in the broadest sense. The EASM promotes and stimulates studies, research, scholarly writing and professional development in the field of sport management. It also publishes the European Journal of Sport Management.
• National Consortium on Recreation and Youth Development 
  A coalition of universities and the parks and recreation departments of local communities in the U.S. Jointly sponsored research focuses on the impact of recreation programs on at-risk youth. The site contains research reports.
• World Leisure and Recreation Association (WRLA) 
  A worldwide non-governmental organization with United Nations consultative status that is dedicated to discovering and fostering conditions for the pursuit of leisure and free time experiences which most fully enhance the lives of persons and their communities. The WRLA explores and discovers the nature and consequences of leisure experiences for individuals, groups and commununities.

Leisure Journals

• Journal of Leisure Research (JLR) [table of contents + abstracts]
• Leisure Sciences (LSC) [table of contents]
• Loisir & Société / Society and Leisure 
  An international refereed journal and a intellectual resource for anyone interested in the leisure phenomenon in comtemporary society.
• Managing Leisure [table of contents]
  A quarterly to inform and stimulate discussions relevant to leisure management.
• References
  • Journals in Recreation & Leisure Studies
    A list of printed journals related to recreation and leisure. Presented by the Memorial Library of the State University of New York College at Cortland, USA.
  • Leisure Studies Journals
    A listing prepared by the School of Leisure Studies, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia.

Leisure References: Directories and Guides

• Internet Resources for Outdoor Recreation Research
  A guide for outdoor recreation students, researchers and practitioners. The page is part of the Natural Resource Research Information Pages NRRIPS). Compiled and maintained by Yu-Fai Leung (North Carolina State University, USA).
• Leisure Resources from the Netherlands
• Recreation - Google Directory
• Recreation and Leisure Studies (Research Guide) 
  This useful guide introduces some basic print and electronic research sources useful for papers, projects, Web links and speeches on topics related to recreation and leisure studies. Provides dissertations, journals and related resources. Maintained by State University of New York/Cortland, U.S.A.
• Recreation and Leisure Studies: Dmoz | Yahoo!

Sociology of Sport

• Africa Online 
  A division of Prodigy Inc., this site has an extensive listing of sports organizations, scores, online links to various African nations' sports programs, chat rooms and resources for those interested in sports on the African continent.
• Cagan, Joanna / DeMaus, Neil 
  Field of Schemes
  An analysis of the political economy of sports stadiums with links to related information about sports and corporate welfare. It discusses the public financing of sports facilities and the rationale —or lack thereof— behind this common scenario. The site accompanies the book of the same name.
• Directory of Experts in Sport Sociology
  Contains names and locations of social scientists in a wide range of sport areas who can help journalists and others interested in understanding issues related to sport and society. Editor: Michael Messner (Univ. of Southern California, USA).
• Football Research Organisation UK
  A site dedicated to the academic study of football violence (hooliganism) and policing. A research tool for all students and academics interested in football related issues also including, media, racism, feminism studies, world cup etc. Excellent resources such as, references, theorists and theories, glossaries, internal search engine and translation facility. Editor: Robin Manser.
• Gospelcom: Sports and Athletics Resources
  Connections between sports and Christianity are explored. Testimonials, forums and links to other sites sponsored by the Gospel Communications Network.
• Hooliganism
  Research into football hooliganism and policing in the UK and Europe. Sociological aspects of football violence. Editor: Robin Manser.
• Human Kinetics
  Information in physical activity. It includes a great sport section. A collection of links on human kinetis, inforkinetics, physical activity.
• Ice Sports Page
  Site for luge, bobsled, speed skating and other sports on ice. Personal and organizational web sites provided.
• Jewish Sports
  A publication of "Herwish Family Life" (JFL), a producer of original Jewish content. The site provides news and profiles of Jewish athletes, owners and related sports figures in sport. It includes a Jewish orientated link list.
• Polling Report
  An independent organization which reports on surveys of public opinion in the U.S., has poll results on several issues related to sports.
• Referee/Umpire Homepage
  Various resources related to umpiring/officiating in sport. Has chat rooms, usegroup, links, professional associations and sport-specific discussion boards.
• Sociology of Sport - in French
  By: Dominique Jorand.
• Sports Background Reports
  Public Service Broadcasting (PBS), the U.S. national public radio station's site has archives of interviews with well-known commentators on a variety of sport-related topics.
• Young, T.R.
  Teaching Sociology of Sport

Women and Sport

• Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS)
  Encourages girls and women to get out of the bleachers, off the sidelines, and onto the fields and rinks, into the pools, locker rooms and board rooms of Canada.
• Empowering Women in Sports
  Presented by the Feminist Majority Foundation. This article documents the inequity and sex discrimination prevalent in the field of sport in the USA. Topics include barriers to women in athletic careers, women in the Olympics, women athletes in the media, contact sports and violence against women and strategies for change.
• Gender Equity in Sports
  Research project at the University of Iowa, USA. The site contains documents relating to the legislation, and links to sites aimed at people who are investigating "the state of affairs in interscholastic or intercollegiate sport". Project leaders: Mary C. Curtis and Christine H.B. Grant.
• International Working Group Web Site
  In preparation for the 2002 World Conference on Women and Sport, May 16-19, 2002, Canada.
• SportsForWomen.com
  A place where active women and fans of women's sports click for information and inspiration. Forums, chat rooms, news and links for women and sport with focus on U.S. sport scene.
• Womensport Australia
  A platform for women's sport and recreation groups to communicate and share their common problems and solutions.
• WomenSport International (WSI)
  An international organization devoted to enhancing female sport and physical activity at all levels of involvement. Site has issues-related task forces, Web links and professional contacts. Maintained by Ann Hall.

  Women's Sports Foundation (WSF)
  One of the oldest and largest U.S.A.-based nonprofit organizations dedicated to increasing opportunities for girls and women in sports and fitness. Established in 1974 by Billie Jean King along with other female athletes, the WSF uses education, advocacy, public recognition and grants to support sport and fitness for females. Site has search engine, research reports, information on grants and links to athletic resources. Sponsored by Lifetime Entertainment Services.

• Women's Sports (WWWomen)
• WWW Women's Sports Page
  Organized by sport from Archery to Wrestling, this site has extensive listings, biographies, associations and links to women's organized, competitive sports. Created and maintained by Amy Lewis since 1995.

Olympic Games

• International Olympic Committee (IOC)
  Includes a virtual museum.
• Olympic Games
  Information on all past and future summer and winter games.
• Special Olympics International
  Official site. Devoted to information and resources about sport for those with mental retardation.
• Olympics Online: The Old Media Beat the New Media
  The Olympics of 2000 was one of the most popular Internet events in history. The official Games Web site received 8.7 million unique visitors from around the worlds (and 11.3 million hits). Although these Olympics has been called the first "Internet Olympics", the Web only played a supplementary role in the Olympic experience for a fraction of Americans.

Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Sports

• Federation of Gay Games
• Gay Games Amsterdam 1998
  Official site for the Games, in both Dutch and English.
• GaySport.info
  Information on activities, organizations, and events in gay and lesbian sports. The site is a non-profit venture of the European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF) and the Dutch GISAG foundation.
• Gay Sports Mate
  Presented by a network of non-commercial gay and lesbian lokal sites in Germany.
• Gender Equity in Sports
  A project of the University of Iowa, USA.
• Hekma, Ger [1998]
  Gay Men and Lesbians in Organized Sports in the Netherlands
  In: Journal of Homosexuality, 35(1), 1998. At the request of the Dutch government, a group of researchers looked into the experiences of gay men and lesbians in organized, non-professional sports. The principal finding was that gay men and lesbians do not experience much discrimination. This circumstance results from the invisibility and silencing of homosexuality in athletics, both by sports organizations and by gay men and lesbians themselves. But in those sports where lesbians have become open about their sexuality, especially in soccer, they do encounter a high level of discrimination. Gay men, on the other hand, have not become visible in any sport. Several suggestions are offered on how to open up sports for lesbians and gay men.
• International Gya & Lesbian Gymnastics Union (IGLGU)
  The IGLGU organizes competitions for ultimate inclusion of gymnasts in the Gay Games. It strives to provide a safe environment for gay, lesbian & bisexual gymnasts throughout the world.
• Outsports
  A site that proves that the idea that 'gay' and 'sports' are a contradiction is wrong. An intelligent look at the world of sports with a slightly bent perspective. The ambition of Outsports is to build a broad, deep, most informative and entertaining gay sports community. It was founded by Jim Buzinsky and Cyd Zeigler, Jr. from Los Angeles, USA.
• Sports: Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual - Google/DMOZ
• Sports: Lesbians, Ga and Bisexuals - Yahoo!

Sport for Disabled

• British Deaf Sports Council (BDSC)
  Offers information on results and reports on several sports. Includes a mailing list, a history of the organisation, an events calendar, regional contact information and a links page.
• Cerebral Palsy International Sport and Recreation Association (CP-ISRA)
  CPISRA is committed to enhancing the opportunities for people with cerebral palsy or a related neurological condition to participate in the sport or leisure activity of their choosing.
• English Federation of Disability Sport
  The national body responsible for developing sport for disabled people in England. They work closely with several other national disability sports organisations whose websites are described separately in Intute. This website contains a news section, events calendar, links to other organisations, details of national job vacancies, teaching publications, sports development projects and other useful items such as electric wheelchair soccer rules.
• European Women and Sport (EWS)
  EWS aims to increase the involvement of women in sport at all levels, encouraging equal opportunities in education, training, participation, promotion, decision making and administration. The site offers information about the organisation and a list of contact persons throughout Europe. There are details of events, conferences and seminars, and projects.
• International Blind Sport Association (IBSA)
  The goal of the IBSA is the full integration of the blind and visually impaired through sport at all levels. Offers information on results and reports on several sports.
• International Committee of Sports for the Deaf
• International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
  IPC is the international organization of elite sports for athletes with disabilities. IPC organizes the Paralympic Games and other multi-disability competitions on elite sports level.

• International Sports Federation for Persons with an Intellectual Disability (INAS-FID)
• International Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Sports Federation (ISMWSF)

Academic Departments

• Centre for the Sociology of Sport (CSS) - Leicester University, UK
  The department runs two courses, an MA in the Sociology of Sport and an MSc in the Sociology of Sport and Sports Management. It includes a variety of resources for sport researchers.
• Department of Exercise and Sport Science - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  The mission of the Department is "to discover, create, and promote knowledge of human movement to improve the quality of life of individuals and society." the research of the department is based around a number of themes, which include the role of public policy in sports development.
• Department of Social Sciences of Sport - University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
• Department of Sport Sociology - University Cologne, Germany
• Department of Leisure Science - University of Cologne, Germany
• Korea Institute of Sport Science (KISS)
• Laboratory for Leisure, Tourism & Sport - University of Connecticut, USA.

Sport Associations, Societies and Networks

• Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology (AAASP)
• Arab Sports Network 
  A comprehensive site for sports in the Middle East. Includes newsgroups, archives, mailing lists, reports and forums for examining sports in a variety of nations in this area of the world.
• British Society of Sports History (BSSH)
  The aim of the BSSH is to promote, stimulate and encourage discussion, study, research and publications on the history of sport and physical education.
• European Federation of Sport Psychology (FEPSAC)
• Exercise and Sport Psychology
  Devision 47 of the American Psychological Association (APA).
• International Sociology of Sport Association (ISSA)
  Maintained by Jim McKay, Australia. ISSA fosters scholarly research in the sociology of sport. Information on conferences and the association's journal are available.
• Japan Society of Sport Sociology
  Including the Japan Journal of Sport Sociology [table of contents].
• NASPSPA - North American Society for Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity
• NASS - North American Society For The Sociology Of Sport
  A resource and information site for researchers and professionals in sociology of sport. Includes a Reference list for Leisure, Tourism & Sport.
• Research Committee on Sociology of Sport (RC27)
  International Sociological Association.

Sport Journals

• Cyber-Journal of Sport Marketing [full text]
• Journal of Applied Sport Psychology
  Published by the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology (AAASP).
• International Review for the Sociology of Sport (IRSS) [table of contents]
• Japan Journal of Sport Sociology (JJSS) [table of contents]
• Journal of Basketball Studies
  A serious and fun site that uses science and math to study basketball. Articles and statistical principles are included in the site, which has useful applications for quantitatively oriented social scientists. Created by L. Dean Oliver.
• Referee
  An online magazine devoted to officiating in amateur and professional sports.
• Sociology of Sport Journal (SSJ) [Tables of Contents and Abstracts]
  The purpose of the SSJ is to stimulate and communicate research, critical thought, and theory development on issues pertaining to the sociology of sport. The journal publishes empirical, theoretical, and position papers; book reviews; and critical essays. Analyses of sport from diverse theoretical and methodological perspectives are encouraged. Submissions concerned with play, games, exercise, leisure, and body culture are welcomed.
• sosol - Sociology of Sport Online - [full text]
  Based at the Sociology of Sport Research Center, Brunel University, UK. Sosol is an international electronic forum for the creation and sharing of research ideas and theory in the sociology of sport. Journal articles, book reviews and literature reviews are available.
• Sport Journal, The [full text]
  Published by the United States Sports Academy (USSA) in cooperation with the International Coaches Association and the International Association of Sports Academies.
• Sports Law Journals
  Journals devoted to the study of law and sport:
  • Entertainment and Sports Lawyer [table of contents]
    Published quarterly bythe Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries of the American Bar Association (ABA).
  • Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport (JLAS) [table of contents]
    Published by the Society for the Study of Legal Aspects of Sport and Physical Activity (SSLASPA).
  • Mark's Sports Law News
    A source for news, analysis, cases, statute and regulations involving legal issues in the world of sports.
  • Southern California Sports and Entertainment Law Journal
  • Sports Lawyers Journal [table of contents]
    Published by the Sports Lawyers Association.
  • Villanova Sports and Entertainment Law Journal.

Reference: Directories and Guides

• Sport Quest
  The Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC) in Canada, begun in 1975, organizes and retreives massive amounts of information about sports and sport-related issues. If you have a question, they probably have an answer. It includes a section on sports sociology. Maintained by SIRC.
• Sports (Galaxy)
• Sports (Google/DMOZ)
• Sports (WWW Virtual Library)
• Sports (Yahoo)
• Sports Science WWW Directory - Center for Studies in Physical Education and Sports Science, University of Leeds.
• Virtual Resource Centre for Sport Information
  Presented by the Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC), Canada. The library was created to serve the information needs of the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC).
• World-Wide PH.D. Program Locator
  Here you can find academic programs in Sport Sociology and Sport Management. A service provided by the Laboratory for Leisure, Tourism & Sport, University of Connecticut, USA.

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