Most studies of the link between youth participation in sports and their involvement in delinquency have found a negative association. Several inquiries, however, have determined that this negative association can be attributed primarily to the lower class segment of the populations sampled. Further, some researchers have suggested that negative correlations reflect the fact that nondelinquents are more apt to be attracted or recruited to athletic teams than are delinquent youth. To add to the confusion, a few studies have found a positive association between youth participation in sports and their involvement in delinquency. From a theoretical perspective, personality theory has dominated contemporary psychological thinking on the relationship between sports and delinquency. The thesis is that personality traits are a function of involvement in sports and recreational activities, while delinquency in turn is effected by personality. A number of leading social and social-psychological theories in criminology also hold potential for understanding the nature of the link between sport and delinquent activities. These theories include the learning framework, strain theory, control theory, and labeling theory. Biological traits have also been postulated to account for higher levels of delinquent behavior among non-athletes. Methodological deficiencies in research on the sports/delinquency relationship are noted. 15 references