The emerging field of youth development has recently focused on fostering leadership qualities. Embracing the idea that children are capable of being leaders when given the chance, Martinek and Hellison describe actual programs that have been developed. These programs become the basis for a range of recommendations for planning, conducting, and evaluating leadership programs for young people, particularly urban youth. Useful for teachers, coaches, and youth agency program leaders, this work compiles ideas suitable for children in fourth grade through high school.

This book responds to the needs of urban youth by describing youth development principles in physical activity programs. These programs are built on urban kids' assets and promise rather than their deficits. Included are ways of transferring skills from specific programs to everyday settings.