Weathering the storm in Leyte through football: Sociological implications

Social scientists have been interested in the social and psychological impacts of natural disasters. A recent development in this field of inquiry relates to the role of sports as a method of trauma relief among populations affected by disasters. This article critically analyzes the role of sports for psychosocial interventions in post-disaster contexts. Using the case study of football programs in Leyte implemented after Typhoon Haiyan, I argue that sports can and should provide the camaraderie that draws otherwise disconnected, marginalized, and vulnerable young people into programs that promote well-being. Sports, however, should not be appreciated as a panacea that can mend anxieties and social tensions. Instead, this article suggests that practitioners and advocates of the "Sports for Development and Peace" agenda should reconsider and unpack their normative commitments to redirect practice towards a holistic and transformative experience for target beneficiaries