ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we will discuss the role-play in natural environments has in providing a valuable foundation for enhancing physical literacy to support a lifelong engagement with physical activity and sports. Specifically, we discuss how unstructured and unsupervised play during the childhoods of sporting legends provided the foundations for future expertise. We will focus on the ‘world games’ of football (soccer), and basketball within the unique locales such as the cage football in London, street football in Brazil and the parks of New York. We will conclude with some thoughts and ideas that we believe should be considered by those responsible for designing the learning experiences and surroundings of young people, with the goal in promoting a renaissance of play as a key embedded contribution to the quality of the lives of young (and old) people.
