A1 Journal article (refereed)
A tale of three seasons : a cultural sport psychology and gender performativity approach to practitioner identity and development in professional football (2021)

Champ, F., Ronkainen, N., Tod, D., Eubank, A., & Littlewood, M. (2021). A tale of three seasons : a cultural sport psychology and gender performativity approach to practitioner identity and development in professional football. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 13(5), 847-863. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2020.1833967

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Champ, Francesca; Ronkainen, Noora; Tod, David; Eubank, Artin; Littlewood, Martin

Journal or series: Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health

ISSN: 2159-676X

eISSN: 2159-6778

Publication year: 2021

Publication date: 25/10/2020

Volume: 13

Issue number: 5

Pages range: 847-863

Publisher: Routledge

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2020.1833967

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/73379

Abstract

The present study explored how the organisational and cultural experiences of a trainee Sport Psychology Consultant (SPC) working in professional football shaped her identity and professional development. Drawing on Cultural Sport Psychology (CSP) and gender performativity as guiding frameworks, we explored the first author’s identity development as a sport psychology practitioner-researcher within one professional football club over a 3-year duration. Traditional ethnographic data collection methods were employed, including, field notes and a reflective journal. Through creative non-fiction vignettes, we show that the traditional masculine discourse in professional football shaped the first author’s sense of self and subsequent behaviours. From the results of this study, we suggest that SPCs identity development is not smooth or linear, rather it can be described as a ‘rocky road to individuation’ defined by a series of culturally specific ‘critical moments’. We strongly believe that contextual intelligence and cultural proficiency are essential for a trainee SPCs survival during early and later career stages of working within elite and professional sport environments.

Keywords: sport psychology; psychologists; identity (mental objects); professional identity; professional development; gender roles

Free keywords: gender performativity; cultural sport psychology; identity; professional development; longitudinal

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

JUFO rating: 1