Football friends: adolescent boys’ friendships inside an English professional football (soccer) academy

Authors: Adams, A. and Carr, S.

Journal: Soccer and Society

Volume: 20

Issue: 3

Pages: 471-493

eISSN: 1743-9590

ISSN: 1466-0970

DOI: 10.1080/14660970.2017.1331164

Abstract:

This qualitative research draws on data from semi-structured, in-depth interviews to examine the friendships of 12 adolescent (14- and 15-year-old) boys within a professional football club Academy: a setting marked by competition for places. Findings highlight how boys fail to develop ‘deep’ friendships with other boys inside the club; their peer-relationships, even when described as ‘friendships’, are devoid of trust and emotional intimacy. Instead, ‘being mates’ is experienced within parameters of instrumentalism and individualism leading to superficial and inauthentic friendships. There is some indication that boys developed closer friendships with boys outside of the Academy, suggesting that competition is implicated negatively in friendship-building and hinders the capabilities of these boys to develop close friendships with teammates. Concluding this paper, we acknowledge limitations of our data, discuss implications and challenges for football academies, and highlight directions for future research.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/29234/

Source: Scopus

Football friends: adolescent boys' friendships inside an English professional football (soccer) academy

Authors: Adams, A. and Carr, S.

Journal: SOCCER & SOCIETY

Volume: 20

Issue: 3

Pages: 471-493

eISSN: 1743-9590

ISSN: 1466-0970

DOI: 10.1080/14660970.2017.1331164

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/29234/

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

Football friends: adolescent boys’ friendships inside an English professional football (soccer) academy

Authors: Adams, A. and Carr, S.

Journal: Soccer and society

Volume: 20

Issue: 3

Pages: 471-493

Publisher: Frank Cass Publishers

ISSN: 1466-0970

DOI: 10.1080/14660970.2017.1331164

Abstract:

This qualitative research draws on data from semi-structured, in-depth interviews to examine the friendships of twelve adolescent (14 and 15-year-old) boys within a professional football club Academy: a setting marked by competition for places. Findings highlight how boys fail to develop ‘deep’ friendships with other boys inside the club; their peer-relationships, even when described as ‘friendships,’ are devoid of trust and emotional intimacy. Instead, ‘being mates’ is experienced within parameters of instrumentalism and individualism leading to superficial and inauthentic friendships. There is some indication that boys developed closer friendships with boys outside of the Academy, suggesting that competition is implicated negatively in friendship-building and hinders the capabilities of these boys to develop close friendships with teammates. Concluding this paper, we acknowledge limitations of our data, discuss implications and challenges for football academies, and highlight directions for future research.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/29234/

Source: Manual

Football friends: adolescent boys’ friendships inside an English professional football (soccer) academy.

Authors: Adams, A. and Carr, S.

Journal: Soccer and Society

Volume: 20

Issue: 3

Pages: 471-493

ISSN: 1466-0970

Abstract:

This qualitative research draws on data from semi-structured, in-depth interviews to examine the friendships of twelve adolescent (14 and 15-year-old) boys within a professional football club Academy: a setting marked by competition for places. Findings highlight how boys fail to develop ‘deep’ friendships with other boys inside the club; their peer-relationships, even when described as ‘friendships,’ are devoid of trust and emotional intimacy. Instead, ‘being mates’ is experienced within parameters of instrumentalism and individualism leading to superficial and inauthentic friendships. There is some indication that boys developed closer friendships with boys outside of the Academy, suggesting that competition is implicated negatively in friendship-building and hinders the capabilities of these boys to develop close friendships with teammates. Concluding this paper, we acknowledge limitations of our data, discuss implications and challenges for football academies, and highlight directions for future research.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/29234/

Source: BURO EPrints