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Social Science General

Playing Out of Bounds

“Belonging” and the North American Chinese Invitational Volleyball Tournament

by (author) Yuka Nakamura

Publisher
University of Toronto Press
Initial publish date
Aug 2019
Category
General, Essays, General
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781487523640
    Publish Date
    Aug 2019
    List Price
    $37.95
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781487504991
    Publish Date
    Aug 2019
    List Price
    $77.00
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781487531317
    Publish Date
    Aug 2019
    List Price
    $37.95

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Description

Playing Out of Bounds investigates the North American Chinese Invitational Volleyball Tournament (NACIVT), an annual event that began in the 1930s in the streets of Manhattan and now attracts 1200 competitors from the U.S. and Canada. Its two key features are the 9-man game, where there are nine instead of the usual six volleyball players on the court, and the fact that player eligibility is limited to "100% Chinese" and Asian players, as defined in the tournament rules. These rules that limit competitors to specific ethno-racial groups is justified by the discrimination that Chinese people faced when they were denied access to physical activity spaces, and instead played in the alleyways and streets of Chinatowns.

 

Drawing on interviews, participant-observation, and analysis of websites and tournament documents, Playing Out of Bounds explores how participants understand and negotiate their sense of belonging within this community of volleyball players and how membership within and the boundaries of this community are continually being (re)defined. This identity/community building occurs within a context of anti-Asian racism, growing numbers of mixed race players, and fluidity of what it means to be Canadian, American, Chinese, and Asian.

About the author

Yuka Nakamura is Project Manager at the Centre for Sport Policy Studies in the Faculty of Physical Education and Health at the University of Toronto.

Yuka Nakamura's profile page