A study into the interplay between anger and identity in female football coaches

Todd, Alix (2021) A study into the interplay between anger and identity in female football coaches. Masters thesis, Buckinghamshire New University.

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Abstract

Attempting to contribute to the growing body of literature addressing emotion in sports coaching, this study explored the interplay of anger and identity for women football coaches. Data were generated through 14 hours of qualitative interviews with 7 female football coaches. Using symbolic interactionist theorisation of identity (e.g. Burke & Stets, 2009; Hochschild, 1983; McCall & Simmons, 1978; Thoits, 2012) as the overarching sense-making lens, my iterative analysis of the participants’ experiences revealed two key inter-related themes; (1) A degree of professionalism, and (2) I will never cross that line. These themes revealed, firstly, how the participants regularly experienced anger when their football coaching identities were disconfirmed, threatened, or blocked by significant others (e.g. chairman, athletes, colleagues). Second, how the female coaches employed a variety of emotion management strategies (e.g., surface acting, bodily work, and cognitive work) to transform or conceal their feelings of anger in accordance with the situational emotion norms. In addition to illustrating how these acts of emotion management were informed by the participants’ desire to verify their football coaching identities, simultaneously achieving internal (e.g. increased self-esteem, stress release, and enjoyment) and external rewards (e.g. promotions, favours, and employment), whilst avoiding sanctions (e.g. job loss, shame, and alienation). By illuminating how and why female sports coaches experience and manage anger, I believe the findings offer a substantive contribution to the embryonic body of sociological research into identity and emotions in sports coaching. Further, I believe this work might also be fruitfully utilised in supporting the preparation and development of sports coaches, having given explicit consideration to the personal and social attributes required to work productively in this dynamic and often challenging sporting environment.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
Depositing User: RED Unit Admin
Date Deposited: 19 Aug 2022 08:18
Last Modified: 19 Aug 2022 08:18
URI: https://bnu.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/18565

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