David Richardson

Physical activity levels of normal-weight and overweight girls and boys during primary school recess.

Objective: This study aimed to compare moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and vigorous physical activity (VPA) in normal‐weight and overweight boys and girls during school recess.

Organizational Structures and Working Practices in Elite European Professional Football Clubs: Understanding the Relationship between Youth and Professional Domains

Abstract Professional football clubs are service enterprises engaged in the business of performance, entertainment and financial profit. Developing young players may reap both sporting and financial rewards to clubs, players and football agents. This paper explores the organizational structure and working practices of professional football clubs concerning young player development. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with heads of youth development within elite clubs (n =26) across five European countries. The study reveals the presence of organizational homogenization within formal youth structures across Europe. Developing players for first team, players personal development and financial profit were predominant aims of all youth programmes. Operational differences included roles, responsibility, youth to professional transitions and the dominant presence of a club orientation towards player development (n=22). Lack of proximity and formal communication between youth and professional environments, regardless of structure, led to staff dissatisfaction and appeared to hinder the coherent progression of young players into the professional environment.

Developing support mechanisms for elite young players in a professional soccer academy: creative reflections in action research.

Developing soccer players are introduced to the notions of professionalism through the soccer Academy system. The range of personal and interpersonal challenges that elite youth soccer players encounter suggests a need for the provision of appropriate support mechanisms within Academy training programmes. The present paper draws from the authors’ prolonged research association with elite youth development programmes in soccer. More specifically, the paper utilises elements of a longitudinal collaborative action research exercise, which explored the role of the Heads of Education and Welfare (HoEW) within English soccer Academies. The theme of ‘supporting development’ is illustrated through the example of one HoEWs approach to player support. The authors’ observations and experiences, which draw on ethnographic principles, are presented utilising the traditions of autobiographical writing (Swan, 1998) and the guidelines associated with creative non‐fiction (Sparkes, 2000). Such representations enable the authors, the practitioner (and the reader) to witness the manifestation of holistic player support (Reilly, Williams and Richardson, 2003).

Football in the community schemes: exploring the effectiveness of an intervention in promoting healthful behaviour change

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of a Premier League football club’s Football in the Community (FitC) schemes intervention in promoting positive healthful behaviour change in children. Specifically, exploring the effectiveness of this intervention from the perspectives of the participants involved (i.e. the researcher, teachers, children and coaches). A range of data collection techniques were utilized including the principles of ethnography (i.e. immersion, engagement and observations), alongside conducting focus groups with the children. The results allude to the intervention merely ‘keeping active children active’ via (mostly) fun, football sessions. Results highlight the important contribution the ‘coach’ plays in the effectiveness of the intervention. Results relating to working practice (i.e. coaching practice and coach recruitment) are discussed and highlighted as areas to be addressed. FitC schemes appear to require a process of positive organizational change to increase their effectiveness in strategically attending to the health agenda.

An examination of the migratory transition of elite young European soccer players to the English Premier League

Abstract The migration of soccer players has increased in recent years. In this study, we examined the experiences of elite young soccer players as they engaged in a migratory transition from their home country to an English Premier League (EPL) club. Five young players, who made the migratory transition between the ages of 16 and 24, were interviewed. Data were analysed using the principles of content analysis. Verbatim text was then aligned to the emergent themes. Results indicate that young migratory players face the initial frenzy that is associated with an approach from an EPL club before going through a “decision” phase, followed by a period of “migration” and “acculturation” before establishing (or not) their “home from home”. The challenges of leaving home and family while trying to establish themselves as a professional player in an environment that (still) appears to be beset with (traditional) English soccer culture (i.e. high tempo, ruthless, macho, and aggressive) are recounted. While the players family was a significant source of social support, there is still a need for qualified personnel (e.g. sports psychologists) and/or appropriately trained international recruitment staff and football agents (i.e. in areas of social, psychological, and/or performance lifestyle) to support young players through their migratory transition.

Football labour migration: an examination of the player recruitment strategies of the ‘big five’ European football leagues 2004–5 to 2008–9

The purpose of this study was to examine the player acquisition trends of the ‘big five’ European professional football leagues (English Premier League, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, Serie A and La Liga) between the seasons 2004–5 and 2008–9. Specifically, the study differentiates between the presence and impact of indigenous home-grown players, non-indigenous home-grown players and foreign players within the respective leagues. Official player directories provided information on a number of player and club variables including nationality, FIFA affiliation, league, club, primary playing position and appearances. Data was coded, analysed and presented using descriptive statistics. The results indicate an increasing level of football player migration between nation states located in different confederations. The dominant migrants outside of the UEFA confederation originate from South America and Africa. Although indigenous home-grown player numbers were decreasing (slightly), four of the five leagues remained indigenously dominant with the German Bundesliga being the only league that possessed more foreign players than indigenous home-grown players. It was noted that the propensity to adopt such global player recruitment strategies may result in the big five European leagues becoming dependent development states. Such a dependency will be more extreme in those countries that fail to invest in indigenous home-grown player development strategies.

Reaching older people with PA delivered in football clubs: the reach, adoption and implementation characteristics of the Extra Time Programme

BackgroundOlder adults (OA) represent a core priority group for physical activity and Public Health policy. As a result, significant interest is placed on how to optimise adherence to interventions promoting these approaches. Extra Time (ET) is an example of a national programme of physical activity interventions delivered in professional football clubs for OA aged 55+ years. This paper aims to examine the outcomes from ET, and unpick the processes by which these outcomes were achieved.MethodsThis paper represents a secondary analysis of data collected during the evaluation of ET. From the 985 OA reached by ET, n=486 adopted the programme and completed post-intervention surveys (typically 12 weeks). We also draw on interview data with 18 ET participants, and 7 staff who delivered the programme. Data were subject to thematic analysis to generate overarching and sub themes.ResultsOf the 486 participants, the majority 95%, (n= 462) were White British and 59.7% (n=290) were female. Most adopters (65.4%/n=318) had not participated in previous interventions in the host clubs. Social interaction was the most frequently reported benefit of participation (77.2%, n=375). While the reach of the club badge was important in letting people know about the programme, further work enhanced adoption and satisfaction. These factors included (i) listening to participants, (ii) delivering a flexible age-appropriate programme of diverse physical and social activities, (iii) offering activities which satisfy energy drives and needs for learning and (iv) extensive opportunities for social engagement.ConclusionsFindings emerging from this study indicate that physical activity and health interventions delivered through professional football clubs can be effective for engaging OA.

Ethnographic engagement from within a Football in the Community programme at an English Premier League football club

The present paper draws upon six years of applied practitioner research experience of the authors who were based within a Football in the Community (FitC) programme at an English Premier League football club in a deprived community in the UK. The paper explores the critical emergent issues concerned with participant recruitment, engagement and retention within a range of FitC physical activity, health improvement interventions with the following populations; primary school children, families, men aged 18–35 years and men aged 55 years and above. Results are drawn from a range of ethnographic, reflective and observational data collection and analysis techniques undertaken by the authors. A first person writing style is used alongside creative non-fiction vignettes. Results relating to the effectiveness of a range of behaviour and lifestyle change interventions are discussed. The authors conclude with a series of proposed operational and strategic ways forward for FitC schemes.

A practitioner-focused approach to the provision of psychological support in soccer: adopting action research themes and processes.

In this review, we explore a practitioner-focused approach to the provision of psychological support in soccer. Support is depicted to be a collaborative exercise and is associated with action research themes and processes. Various procedures and perspectives that are associated with action research are outlined. The ideas presented suggest that many soccer-based practitioners (coaches, managers and physiotherapists) have the capacity to influence how sport psychology practice might be experienced by players. The sport scientist is depicted here as someone who acts as a critical friend to those practitioners who are interested in developing aspects of their own working practice. Having established these ideas, the review provides an illustration of how a combination of action research themes and qualitative research techniques has been used to influence and support heads of education and welfare in UK soccer academies across the north-west of England.

Exploring athletic identity in elite-level English youth football: a cross-sectional approach

Abstract This study is the first empirical investigation that has explored levels of athletic identity in elite-level English professional football. The importance of understanding athletes’ psychological well-being within professional sport has been well documented. This is especially important within the professional football industry, given the high attrition rate (Anderson, G., & Miller, R. M. (2011). The academy system in English professional football: Business value or following the herd? University of Liverpool, Management School Research Paper Series. Retrieved from http://www.liv.ac.uk/managementschool/research/working%20papers/wp201143.pdf) and distinct occupational practices (Roderick, M. (2006). The work of professional football. A labour of love? London: Routledge). A total of 168 elite youth footballers from the English professional football leagues completed the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS). Multilevel modelling was used to examine the effect of playing level, living arrangements and year of apprentice on the total AIMS score and its subscales (i.e., social identity, exclusivity and negative affectivity). Football club explained 30% of the variance in exclusivity among players (P = .022). Mean social identity was significantly higher for those players in the first year of their apprenticeship compared to the second year (P = .025). All other effects were not statistically significant (P > .05). The novel and unique findings have practical implications in the design and implementation of career support strategies with respect to social identity. This may facilitate the maintenance of motivation over a 2-year apprenticeship and positively impact on performance levels within the professional football environment.