Spirituality and Basketball Fanship: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and Synthesis

Elena Balcaite,Richard M Buscombe,Stephen D Edwards

doi:10.18848/2381-6678/cgp/v06i03/54087

Abstract

The world of competitive sport affords an individual the opportunity to enter a spiritual community adding meaning that transcends one’s current understanding of life (Parry et al. 2007). Previously established dimensions of sports fanship (group affiliation, psychological commitment and team identification) share characteristics commonly associated with religious or spiritual affiliation indicating that fans may generate substantial life meaning from observing sporting encounters. In the present study, 12 male basketball fans (M=32.42; SD=7.97) completed semi-structured interviews immediately prior to viewing a competitive match at the 2011 European Basketball Championships (Vilnius, Lithuania). Interviews were structured under four headings; 1) the most memorable moment as a basketball fan, 2) thoughts, feelings and emotions attached to their team, 3) affiliation to the team in the context of the fan’s meaning of life, 4) connection with members of the fan’s sporting community. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was employed to analyse interview transcripts. Raw data clustered into four dimensions; 1) devotion, 2) obscure emotions, 3) connectedness, and 4) universal values. The results indicate that sports fanship is characterised by, and synonymous with, an established understanding of spirituality derived from membership of wider spiritual and/or religious communities. The findings hold implications for the marketing and membership of local, amateur and professional sports clubs and brands, as well as community development, health and welfare.

Highlights

The study of religion and spirituality as it applies to sport has gained prominence over the past thirty years culminating in the production of a number of seminal texts dedicated to the topic (Hoffman 1992; Higgs 1995; Magdalinski and Chandler 2002; Baker 2007; Parry et al 2007; Watson and Nesti 2005; Parry, Nesti and Watson 2011)
The emotional and psychological investment described by the participants reflected an experience that went beyond the physical realm, incorporating aspects of euphoria and peak experiences that have been reported during episodes of prayer
The present study sought to investigate sports fanship against a backdrop of dimensions of spirituality as understood through the eyes of fans supporting their nations at an international basketball competition

Summary

Introduction

The study of religion and spirituality as it applies to sport has gained prominence over the past thirty years culminating in the production of a number of seminal texts dedicated to the topic (Hoffman 1992; Higgs 1995; Magdalinski and Chandler 2002; Baker 2007; Parry et al 2007; Watson and Nesti 2005; Parry, Nesti and Watson 2011) Supplementing this literature, work has emerged that has sought to synthesise thinking grounded in theological doctrine with modern conceptualizations of spirituality in considering wider applications to sport (Preece 2006, 27). Human aspects include immediate apprehensions or direct experiences referred to as peak experiences by Maslow (1971)

Methods

Results

Conclusion