It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Associate Professor Clive Pope of the University of Waikato, New Zealand. Clive’s death is a profound loss to our community, and to the many colleagues, students, and friends around the world who had the privilege of knowing and working with him.
Clive’s career was marked by an unwavering commitment to improving the practices and experiences of young people in physical education, and youth sport. He began his professional life as a physical education teacher, and it was in the classroom, gymnasium, and playing fields, he developed a deep curiosity and care for young learners that would shape the rest of his career. His desire to better understand how to support young people drew him into postgraduate study, ultimately leading him to Ohio State University, where he completed, his doctorate that focused on Sport Education. During this time he made life-long friendship with like-minded educators.
Returning to New Zealand, Clive took on a leading role in advancing developments in physical education and youth sport, conducting research, publishing widely, and presenting his work at conferences and workshops across the globe. His contribution to PE, sport education, youth sport, and coach development always with a clear and consistent purpose: to make PE, sport and physical activity more meaningful, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate for young people. Much of his work challenged practitioners to think more deeply about the quality of young people’s experiences, and to create environments in which everyone could thrive.
Clive was also a pioneer in the adoption of visual ethnographic research. He championed methods such as photo-elicitation and participant-generated imagery as ways of placing young people at the centre of the research process. In so doing he was giving voice to their experiences in ways that other methods could not. This helped advance the use of visual in the sport pedagogy field, and generously mentored a generation of researchers who continue to build on his foundation.
Those who knew Clive will remember not only his scholarship but also his warmth, humility, and genuine interest in the people around him. He had a rare ability to make students and colleagues feel seen and valued, and he willingly gave his time and encouragement freely. His influence will be felt for many years to come, in the careers he helped shape, the practices he helped improve, and the young people whose experiences of sport and physical education are richer because of his work.
Clive will be deeply missed. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of sharing in his life and work.
A celebration of his life will be live streamed, at this link, on the 27th May, 2pm NZ time.
