Physical Activity and Sport as a Tool for Connection in a Prison Context: Ethnographic Evidence

Abstract

This article aims to analyse the social benefits of sports practice for prison inmates. With this objective, and thanks to the collaboration of practitioners and academics, a two-and-a-half-year ethnographic study was conducted in a Catalonian prison. The main findings show that through physical activity and sports it is possible to establish bonds, foster cohesion, break prejudices among inmates, and even promote solidarity with other groups. Thus, inmates consider physical activity and sports essential in a prison. However, data also reflect that sports practice can create a hostile environment. The conclusions emphasize the potential of physical activity and sports as a tool for resocialization among inmates, though it is crucial for these practices to have a pedagogical intent.