Abstract

This article examines the place of physical activity and sport in relation to the programmes of social insertion aimed at young people in underprivileged neighbourhoods. The degradation in these areas has been increasing over the last few years and the processes of exclusion has worsened living conditions for these young people. These facts have made it necessary to look for a new focus in the mechanisms of juvenile insertion. We consider that sporting practices bring something new to the politics of insertion. With this in mind, we have concentrated on the “neighbourhoods of special action” of Valencia Community and have carried out exploratory interviews with social service workers in contact with the problems of young people. The information thus obtained has allowed us to know their attitudes and characterise the first experiences developed in this ambit.