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This study explores how junior high school baseball players in specialized sports programs cope with and adjust to the constraints of pursuing their aspirations and the realities of academic and athletic demands. These young players, driven by their passion for baseball and supported by their families, join the junior high school sports program to pursue their baseball dreams and embark on a training-intensive lifestyle. The three years of training in junior high school differ significantly from the elementary school stage in terms of training time, intensity, and level of competition. In order to improve their skills and earn playing opportunities, most young players approach their training with a mindset of hard work and diligence. In addition to practicing diligently at school, they also seek external sports resources to further enhance their abilities. During the training period, these young players endure various injuries as a result of their rigorous training. Some of them even choose to conceal their injuries in order to continue training and competing, which ultimately affects their athletic careers.
Junior high school is an important stage in determining one's life direction. Ideally, young baseball players aspire to make it to the professional league, but they are also aware that it is not an easy feat. At this point, they should start making decisions about their career development and move beyond mere dreams. They gradually realize the gap between their abilities and the professional level, and some may even come to the realization that they no longer have a chance to play professional baseball. However, the majority of young players choose to continue pursuing their "baseball dream" and remain engaged in baseball training. This is because, apart from finding fulfillment and confidence on the baseball field, baseball also serves as a refuge from the pressures of academics. It offers them a temporary escape from the stress of their studies.
This study takes an anthropological perspective on youth studies and utilizes fieldwork to understand a junior high school specialized baseball team. In-depth interviews were conducted with 14 ninth-grade students from the baseball team to analyze their expectations when they joined the team, the influences they encountered during baseball training and their academic pursuits, and their understanding of their current situation. Additionally, this research outlines the players' aspirations and career plans for the future, how they perceive their own futures, and why they continue to dedicate themselves to baseball despite the slim chances of entering professional baseball. Furthermore, the study explores the significance of baseball training for these young players. It aims to provide a micro-level observation of the junior high school baseball team, departing from previous approaches that predominantly focus on discipline and indigeneity in Taiwan’s student baseball research. The study intends to offer insights for educators in designing physical education curriculum and policies in the context of specialized sports programs.
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