Football Experience Research Articles

Inside the football factory: young players’ reflections on being ‘released’

ABSTRACT Every year, most young football players experience deselection and for some, this has profound consequences including drug addiction and death. Yet little is known about these young hopefuls whose careers are abruptly cut short and who are released into a world they are ill prepared for. This study brings a social psychological lens to examine how social identity processes underpin these consequences. Our research sheds light on the formation of a footballer identity in young players; one that is exclusive and excluding, that devalues alternative identities, and that cuts young players off from alternative sources of self-worth and support. The first author, a deselected player with professional football experience, conducted semi-structured interviews with eight males (M = 26.63, SD = 4.66), who had been deselected at an early age. Through reflexive thematic analysis we identified three themes that spoke to (a) the centrality of football identities and how this was fostered by clubs to the detriment of players; (b) the experience of deselection as ‘exiting the bubble’ and the mixed emotions of pain, relief, and bewilderment; and (c) the enduring importance and complex understanding of the footballer identity as something that continues to shape who they are. Our analysis implicates players, their parents, clubs, and wider society in the development of a footballer identity, which leaves young men vulnerable to life-long health consequences. Our findings contribute to calls for deeper consideration and action around football club culture, and clubs’ responsibility for player welfare, including when players are released.

Experience is all you need: a large language model application of fine-tuned GPT-3.5 and RoBERTa for aspect-based sentiment analysis of college football stadium reviews

ABSTRACT Despite extensive research in service industries, fine-grained explorations of customer experience within spectator sports remain limited. This study pioneers a transfer learning approach grounded in a post-positivism paradigm, underpinned by an integrative customer experience framework for aspect-based sentiment analysis of user-generated content, shedding light on the complexity of the college football game day experience. Three fine-tuned large language models were employed to qualitatively identify and quantitatively analyze customer experience from Tripadvisor reviews on college football stadiums. Our findings indicated that fans’ positive reactions to stimuli related to core (game dynamics), functional (facilities/services), emotional (intense feelings), and socialization (fan interactions/bonding) significantly increased the likelihood of them giving a five-star rating. Mitigating negative experiences across functional, emotional, socialization, safety, and monetary experience was crucial for achieving a top rating, with reducing negative functional issues and safety concerns having the greatest positive impact. Our study contributes to the sport management literature by establishing a unified view of customer experience, enabling a holistic conceptualization and operationalization of customer experience in spectator sports. Empirically, our research proposes targeted strategies to manage customer experience in college football and offers sport management professionals ready-to-use large language models along with detailed deployment guidelines tailored for distinct use cases.

Finally … the team! Navigating obstacles in girls’ access to football

ABSTRACT The article provides educational and pedagogical insights to strengthen the inclusiveness of girls who decide to participate in a female football team. The article presents a bottom-up content analysis to explore the experiences of Italian girls gaining access to women’s football, identifying four key phases: (1) informal football experiences; (2) the search for a female team; (3) parental resistance; and (4) joining a female team. In informal football matches, girls face discriminatory attitudes from boys, but affirm their equality by showcasing their playing skills. At the exo-system level, girls face challenges finding local girls’ teams due to geographical distance. Such obstacle forces some of them to join male teams. The girls also encounter parental resistance rooted in stereotypical views of women's bodies and cultural ideals about suitable sports for women. Some girls overcome these challenges, expressing their passion and feelings to their parents, while others are met with less favorable outcomes. Joining a female team is finally described as being symbolic of support and solidarity among the girls, marking a significant and positive change in their overall football experience. The study highlights the interconnected influence of macro, meso, and microystems shaping girls’ access to football.

The Dark Side of (Later-Life) Leisure: The Case of Walking Football

Leisure is heralded as a channel for connection, belonging, and inclusion in later-life, particularly owing to a presumed threat of isolation and loneliness. Yet, such a framing of later-life leisure risks obscuring moments of conflict and marginalization. Drawing on interviews with 65 people who play walking football, this article explores how players praise its “inclusive” ethic by asserting and celebrating open recruitment policies, the participation of men and women from mixed social backgrounds, and the accommodations afforded to certain players. However, participants simultaneously highlight instances in which inclusion is compromised, such as players disturbing the “ethos” of the sport and mistreating others on account of gender and/or performance levels. Such transgressions, in turn, are navigated in different ways by players and organizers to preserve the sport’s inclusive reputation. To conclude, this article sketches out how the experiences of walking footballers can disrupt sentimental and idealized conceptions of older people’s leisure.

Effect of Perceived Authenticity on [Kick A Goal] Female Viewers’ Football Participation Intention : The Mediating role of Viewing Flow

PURPOSE This study aims to examine the mediating effect of viewing flow on the relationship between perceived authenticity among [Kick A Goal] female viewers’ and football participation intention.METHODS A total of 414 questionnaires were distributed to [Kick A Goal] female viewers, aged from 20s to 60s, who had no experience in football. Among the collected questionnaires, the data used for the final analysis was 338 after data cleaning. The data analysis was conducted using SPSS 25.0, and it included frequency analysis, descriptive statistics analysis, correlation analysis, simple regression analysis, and a three-step mediation analysis proposed by Baron & Kenny(1986).RESULTS This study’s results were as follows: First, the perceived authenticity of female viewers positively affected viewing flow. Second, the viewing flow of female viewers positively affected their football participation intention. Third, viewing flow fully mediated the relationship between perceived authenticity and football participation intention.CONCLUSIONS In summary, this study suggests that it is significant to produce programs with authenticity and maximize viewing flow to further enhance the intention of female viewers to participate in football.

Relationships between physical fitness characteristics, technical skill attributes, and sports injury in female Australian football players.

To explore the relationships between physical fitness and i) technical skills and ii) time-loss from Australian football injury in female players across the talent and participation pathways. This study uses a subset of data from two cross-sectional and one prospective cohort studies. A total of 223 female Australian football players across five competition levels (elite/non-elite senior, high-level junior, and non-elite junior (14-17 years)/(10-13 years)) were included in this study. Comprehensive physical fitness assessments and modified Australian football kicking and handballing tests were conducted in the 2018/19 pre-seasons. During the respective competitive in-season, time-loss injuries were recorded by team personnel. Stepwise multiple linear regressions were performed to determine the relationship between physical fitness and kicking and handballing scores. Cox proportional regressions were conducted to identify physical fitness factors associated with injury. Increased running vertical jump height, greater hip abduction strength, and faster timed 6 m hop speed demonstrated a relationship with kicking accuracy when adjusted for years of Australian football playing experience (adjusted R2 = 0.522, p < 0.001). Faster agility time and increased lean mass were associated with better handballing accuracy (adjusted R2 = 0.221, p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression revealed an increased risk for sustaining a time-loss injury in less agile players (adjusted HR 2.41, 95% CI 1.23, 4.73, p = 0.010). However, this relationship no longer remained when adjusted for age and years of Australian football experience (adjusted HR 1.68, 95% CI 0.81, 3.50, p = 0.166). Physical fitness may be a significant factor contributing to development of Australian football technical skills in female players. However, its role is unclear in protecting against injury risk in this athlete population. Further research is needed to explore the multifactorial and complex phenomenon of talent development and injury risk reduction in female Australian football players.

Lower limb strength and training experience in elite and sub-elite female footballers

BACKGROUND: Strength differences between performance levels remain unclear in female football. Furthermore, the relationship between fulltime training and strength has been unexplored despite increased professionalisation in the sport. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this research were to examine knee flexor/extensor and hip adductor/abductor strength differences between elite and sub-elite female footballers, and then determine the relationship of strength performance to age, years of football experience (FE), and years of fulltime training (FTT). METHODS: 15 elite and 15 sub-elite professional female footballers were tested. The main outcomes were concentric isokinetic knee flexor and extensor peak moment at 60, 180, and 300∘/s, and isometric hip adductor (ADD) and abductor (ABD) force. RESULTS: The elite team had higher absolute (300∘/s: 47.13–49.33 Nm vs 37.33–38.93 Nm, p&lt; 0.05) and normalised (300∘/s: 0.76–0.80 Nm/kg vs 0.59–0.62 Nm/kg, p&lt; 0.05) knee flexor values, and higher normalised ADD (5.64–5.66 N/kg vs 4.98–5.05 N/kg, p&lt; 0.05) and ABD force (5.80–6.00 N/kg vs 5.26–5.39 N/kg, p&lt; 0.05), compared to the sub-elite team. Age, FE, and FTT were correlated to knee flexor values (r= 0.381–0.559, p&lt; 0.05). Additionally, FTT was correlated with normalised ADD and ABD force (r= 0.362–0.546, p&lt; 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sub-elite female footballers may require additional knee flexor and hip strengthening in order to make the step up to the elite level. Those who are younger or have low FTT may also be recommended additional lower limb strengthening ahead of joining a fulltime training environment.

Interview With Rui (Blanca) Qi, Content Creator, Internet Celebrity, and Chinese Football Journalist in Europe

Rui (Blanca) Qi earned her master’s degree in sports management from the Real Madrid Graduate School—Universidad Europea in 2018. Following her graduation, she began her career in sport media, serving as a special correspondent for several Chinese sport-media outlets covering La Liga. In 2019, she expanded her career into content creation, focusing on Spanish football as a blogger. Rui regularly produces and publishes videos on Weibo, a Chinese microblogging platform, and Bilibili, which is similar to YouTube. Through these platforms, she shares her football experiences and insights. You can follow her on Weibo, Bilibili, and Douyin under the username 祁芮Blanca. Rui has been deeply passionate about Real Madrid for over a decade, and her content creation is primarily focused on the club. This dedication has made her a bridge between Real Madrid and Chinese fans. She has released over 230 videos on Bilibili and has nearly 500,000 followers on Chinese social media platforms, establishing her as one of the top football bloggers in China. As a signed journalist and content creator, Rui has reported on numerous international sporting events including the 2020 World Cup in Qatar, the 2024 European Championship, the Union of European Football Associations Champions League, La Liga, and the Bundesliga. In this interview, she shares her experiences as a distant fan of European clubs, her insights on the cross-cultural communication of European football, the stereotypes of women in sports, and the racial discrimination she has encountered in European stadiums.

The relationship between young football players' psychological health resources and the psychological quality of their football experiences: A cross-sectional study.

Studies taking a person-centred statistical approach when examining young peoples` psychological experiences in sport is scarce. The main aim of the present study was to examine the relationships between young football players' psychological health resources and the psychological quality of their football-specific experiences. Data for this cross-sectional study was collected as part of the [BLINDED] arm of the larger Promoting Adolescence Physical Activity (PAPA) multi-centre project [1]. The sample consisted of young [BLINDED] male (n = 814), female (n = 576), grassroots football players between the ages of 10 and 15 years (M = 12.5 years, SD = 1.1 years). We performed a latent profile analysis using Mplus 8.4 using a robust maximum likelihood estimator (MLR). Players with the most resourceful psychological health profile experienced more coach social support (mean = 4.38) than did those with a less well-off resourceful profile (mean = 3.79) and those with the least well-off profile (mean = 3.28). Players with the most resourceful profile also felt a stronger sense of unity among their teammates and they enjoyed football more than those least well off (mean = 4.43 vrs. mean = 3.12 and mean = 4.74 vrs 3.50. respectively). Parallel between-profile differences were also found for the players' general health resources including perceived life satisfaction, general health and family affluence as covariates. Findings suggest that variations in young players' psychological health profiles and their general health resources play a role in the quality of their football-specific psychological experiences.

Participant Experiences With a Community-Based, "Older Adult" Walking Football Initiative in Australia: A Qualitative Exploration.

Despite the growing popularity of walking sports, little is known about who is attracted to them, and what skills, motivations, and experiences encourage ongoing participation. The aim of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon of walking football in Australia. The authors first conducted semistructured interviews with 53 older adults (M = 62.37years, 30.19% female) participating in walking football in Australia. Next, they conducted thematic analysis to develop themes that represented participant perspectives.Results indicated that walking football led to several physical benefits, but the social and mental benefits seemed to be more closely associated with continued participation. The slower pace of walking football created a valuable option to engage in physical activity among those with injuries or severe health issues, as well as older adults concerned about injuries. The slower pace also shifted the focus of walking football away from fitness and ability, and toward technique and skill development, and this focus, along with the mix in abilities, led to informal coaching and mentoring roles which were highly valued among older participants. Participant views about competition in walking football were diverse, with some expressing a mild concern. Understanding such diverse experiences of walking football helps to better understand how different aspects of the sport influence the perceived benefits and likelihood of continuing for different people. Using these findings to further develop walking sports in Australia could have large impacts on the health and well-being of older people.

Motivational profiles and their relation to wellbeing, burnout, and drop-out intentions in university football players in the UK: A mixed methods approach.

In this multi-study paper, we adopted a mixed methods approach to examine the motivational profiles of sub-elite student footballers participating in UK university sport, in relation to their wellbeing, burnout, and drop-out intentions. In Study 1 we used a cross-sectional survey design to collect quantitative measures of motivational regulations, wellbeing, burnout, and drop-out intentions in 260 (n = 129 female) and (n = 131 male) sub-elite university footballers from UK universities (Mage = 20.7 y, SD = 1.5 y). Latent profile analysis revealed five distinct motivational regulation profiles that we deemed ranged from less to more motivationally adaptive in the following order: High-controlled, Amotivated (n = 27), Very-low Motivation (n = 32), Average Motivation (n = 104), High-autonomous, High-controlled (n = 38), and High-autonomous, Low-controlled (n = 59). Wald chi-square tests revealed between-profile differences in wellbeing (χ2 = 115, p < .001), burnout (reduced accomplishment: χ2 = 74, p < .001, exhaustion: χ2 = 34, p < .001, devaluation: χ2 = 121, p < .001), and drop-out intentions (university football: χ2 = 40, p < .001, football in general: χ2 = 91, p < .001). Pairwise comparisons suggested more adaptive motivational profiles had higher wellbeing, and lower burnout and drop-out intentions, than less adaptive profiles. Subsequently, in Study 2 we qualitatively explored the experiences of footballers from the different motivational profiles. We purposefully sampled 2–4 participants from each of the five motivational profiles to take part in focus groups, resulting in a total of 15 participants (Mage = 21.6 y, SD = 1.41 y; n = 8 female, n = 7 male). Results revealed commonalities across the motivational profiles, including that while motivation was complex, individualized, dynamic and interactive in nature; a central, underlying motivator for all players was their passion for football. However, results also suggested that compared to those from less motivationally adaptive profiles, those from more adaptive profiles tended to perceive the environment more positively and tended to feel more valued by those around them. Thus, protecting players’ passion for football and helping them feel more valued within their university-sport environment may support players in remaining in, or moving towards, more adaptive motivational regulation profiles and experiencing associated positive outcomes.

Distinct profiles of multisensory processing between professional goalkeepers and outfield football players

In association football (soccer), the position of goalkeeper is the most specialised position in the sport and has the primary objective of stopping the opposing team from scoring. While previous studies have highlighted differences in physiological and match performance profiles between goalkeepers and outfield players1, surprisingly little research has focused on whether goalkeepers differ in terms of their perceptual-cognitive abilities. Given that goalkeepers use multiple sensory cues and are often required to make rapid decisions based on incomplete multisensory information to fulfil their role2, we hypothesised that professional goalkeepers would display enhanced multisensory temporal processing relative to their outfield counterparts. To test this hypothesis, we measured the temporal binding windows - the time window within which signals from the different senses are integrated into a single percept - of professional goalkeepers, professional outfield players, and a control group with no professional football experience using the sound-induced flash illusion3. Our results indicated a marked difference in multisensory processing between the three groups. Specifically, we found that the goalkeepers displayed a narrower temporal binding window relative to both outfielders and control participants, indicating more precise audiovisual timing estimation. However, this enhanced multisensory temporal processing was accompanied by a general reduction in crossmodal interactions relative to the other two groups that could be attributed to an a priori tendency to segregate sensory signals. We propose that these differences stem from the idiosyncratic nature of the goalkeeping position that puts a premium on the ability of goalkeepers to make quick decisions, often based on partial or incomplete sensory information.

Dropping Out or Continuing Playing-A Case Study of Adolescent's Motives for Participation in Football.

The purpose of this study was to investigate dropout and continuation motives among boys in youth football. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with all players from a former football team, consisting of 13 young people who were 17 years old when the in-depth interviews were conducted. Short interviews with the same players five years earlier (at the age of 12) were also included as part of the data. This strategy was used to gain a longitudinal perspective and a better insight into the participants' experience of organized football. Including in-depth data from all players at a football team-both players that dropped out and continued playing football, and also including some short interviews data from a longitudinal perspective, this study bring new findings into the discussion about sport participation. When the in-depth interviews were conducted, six of the participants had dropped out of football, while seven were still active. The results show that social factors, ambition, other interests and differences in skill and physical development, were all reasons for dropout from this team. Among those who continued playing football, the social aspect of football, their love for the sport, competitive instinct and the training benefits the sport provided, were reasons they continued playing. Furthermore, the findings showed that those who reported the lowest ambitions at the age of twelve, had dropped out of football, while the one with the highest ambitions had continued playing football. Our findings indicate that ambition can be a crucial factor in relation to participation in football, and also that the social aspect of football is an important motivational factor that coaches and parents should be aware of.

‘I didn’t know girls could coach football that well’: the experiences of female football coaches in the South East of England

Although women’s football has seen a significant growth of participation in recent years, this has not reflected in the number of female coaches. In this semi-structured interview research, we examine 10 female football coaches’ experiences in the South East of England. Our findings document three central findings: (1) participants were motivated to pursue a coaching career either due to a love of football, an alternative to a playing career, or were inspired by a recent increase of female role models in the game; (2) the institutional support networks (i.e. those established by the game’s governing body, the Football Association) were inadequate, forcing them to seek support from elsewhere, such as their family; and (3) consistent with previous research, all participants in this research had encountered some form of sexism in their coaching careers. Accordingly, this article contributes to a growing body of research centered on female coaches’ experiences of football.

Subjective experience, self-efficacy, and motivation of professional football referees during the COVID-19 pandemic

The present multi-study article investigates the subjective experience of professional football (a.k.a. soccer) referees and players during the COVID-19 pandemic and the so-called ghost games (i.e., games without supporters). Referees from the Austrian Football Association completed questionnaires inquiring about self-efficacy, motivation, and general personal observations and perceptions (e.g., arousal or confidence). In addition, two players and one referee in the Austrian Football Bundesliga were interviewed retrospectively regarding their subjective experience during ghost games and the effects of emotions on behavior and performance using semi-structured, video-taped interviews. Results of the referee survey indicate that the most profound differences between regular games and ghost games lie in the domain of intrinsic motivation and multiple aspects of subjective experience. Specifically, the experience in ghost games compared with regular games was reported by referees as being significantly less motivating, less excited/tense, less emotional, less focused, and overall, more negative, despite being easier to referee and the players behaving more positively. Qualitative analyses of the video-taped interview footage indicated (i) substantial inter-individual variability regarding the extent of the effect of the empty stadiums on the subjective experience of emotions, (ii) consequently, different strategies to regulate emotions and arousal from suboptimal to optimal levels, both before and during competition, and (iii) interactions between reported emotions, arousal, motivation, self-confidence, behavior and performance on the pitch. In addition, non-verbal expressions of emotion were captured using fully automated AI-software that coded facial movements during interviews. The results of this exploratory facial expression analysis revealed varying degrees of arousal and valence in relation to the content of the statements during the interviews, demonstrating the convergent validity of our findings. Our findings contribute to the growing literature on the effects of football games without fans during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide insights into the subjective experience of professional football referees. Concerning referees and players alike, emotions are investigated as potential processes related to home-field advantage and performance in professional football by means of a multi-methods approach. Further, the combination of qualitative and quantitative measures—as well as verbal and non-verbal communication channels—can deepen our understanding of the emotional influence of (missing) spectators on the subjective experience and the behavior of sports professionals is discussed.

“An Occupational Hazard”: Former Elite Male Professional Players’ Experiences of On-Field Violence in Australian Football (1970 to 1995)

This oral history research explores the experience of ten retired elite Australian football players during their careers in the period from 1970 to 1995. The ex-players were interviewed about their careers by sports journalist, Mike Sheahan, in the long-running Australia Fox Sports Open Mike television series. The particular focus of this historical research is ex-players’ experience of on-field violence. Findings indicated that ex-players were willing to break the Australian football rules and engage in on-field violence either as intimidation or retaliation against opponents. When ex-players did engage in violent intimidatory behavior, they were cool and callous, and anger rarely played a role. Violent retaliation to opposition player transgressions was either immediate or delayed until a future opportunity presented itself. For one Indigenous ex-player, violent responses during games were often sparked by opponents’ verbal racial abuse. In retrospect, he considered this a form of intimidation aimed at putting him off his game that was just part of Australian football at the time. Some ex-players did feel remorse about their violent acts, but others were adamant that they had no regrets about their behavior. Violence was almost expected as an everyday aspect of their football experience and was accepted as an occupational hazard.

Design Considerations for the Attenuation of Translational and Rotational Accelerations in American Football Helmets.

Participants in American football experience repetitive head impacts that induce negative changes in neurocognitive function over the course of a single season. This study aimed to quantify the transfer function connecting the force input to the measured output acceleration of the helmet system to provide a comparison of the impact attenuation of various modern American football helmets. Impact mitigation varied considerably between helmet models and with location for each helmet model. The current data indicate that helmet mass is a key variable driving force attenuation, however flexible helmet shells, helmet shell cutouts, and more compliant padding can improve energy absorption.

Loneliness and lack of belonging: The experiences of migrant professional footballers playing in Europe

At particular moments in our life, one may be susceptible to feelings of loneliness. This may be more evident in professions where individuals need to move away from family and friends for work reasons. Sports professionals not only have to make such a move overseas at times, but they are also often placed in a highly competitive and pressurized environment which may bring about several challenges, including loneliness. This qualitative study sought to explore the experiences of loneliness and lack of belonging of ten migrant male and female footballers. Semi-structured interviews were utilised and data was analysed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that the players experienced loneliness during their migratory experience mainly because they were away from family and friends. Loneliness was associated with unpleasant feelings, and a lack of belonging and this affected their performance. Players engaged in several coping strategies to deal with their loneliness. This study shows the need for culturally competent support structures and specific integration programmes within club settings as players did not have access to sports psychologists or counsellors within their club. Educating significant others in the player's life on the challenges that players may face may also be a point of consideration.

Safety of International Professional Sports Competitions During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Association Football Experience

Major sporting events were suspended during the most acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Competitions are resuming with enhanced hygiene protocols and altered mechanics. While risks for players and staff have been studied, the impact of large-scale tournaments on the communities that host them remains largely unstudied. CONMEBOL Copa América is one of the first wide-scale international tournaments to be conducted in its original format since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament saw 10 national teams compete in four Brazilian cities during a period of heightened viral transmission. The analysis of over 28,000 compulsory PCR tests showed that positive cases did not lead to the uncontrolled spread of the disease among staff and players. More importantly, the data indicate that locally hired staff were not exposed to increased risk while working. The Copa América experience shows that international sporting competitions can be conducted safely even under unfavourable epidemiological situations.

Exclusion, inclusion and belonging in mainstream and disability sport: Jack’s story

ABSTRACT Concepts of exclusion and inclusion in sport, physical activity and physical education settings are mostly anchored to discussions about access to and opportunities in physical and social spaces from the perspective of non-disabled adult stakeholders. In this article, we use individual interviews and two creative non-fiction accounts to explore the views of an adult with cerebral palsy (CP), named Jack, who reflects on his embodied experiences of mainstream and CP youth football. This approach enabled us to provide a more nuanced and sophisticated consideration of the exclusion/inclusion dichotomy by centring Jack’s construction of identity and feelings of belonging in the spaces his body inhabited. Particular attention is paid to the interactions and relationships that Jack developed with teammates and coaches, and the (often ableist) constructs of ability that pervade mainstream and CP settings, all of which served to influence Jack’s sense of belonging. We end by encouraging scholars to centre the experiences and amplify the voices of disabled young people, and to consider inclusion as intersubjective experiences associated with feelings of belonging, acceptance and value that are dynamic and in flux. The concept of embodied belonging can help us to move researchers beyond a simple critique of disabling socio-spatial power relations towards the construction of new knowledge that enhances understandings of disability, place, and space.