An investigation of the cultural sensitivities and challenges associated with working in an elite male English football academy’s multidisciplinary teams
Authors: Rowles, S., Wilding Pinckney, A., McDougall, J., Holder, T. and Callaway, A.
Journal: Journal of Applied Sport Psychology
eISSN: 1533-1571
ISSN: 1041-3200
DOI: 10.1080/10413200.2025.2589727
Abstract:Elite football academies depend on multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) to facilitate player development, yet the cultural sensitivities and operational challenges faced by these teams remain inadequately explored. This study presents a rigorous ethnographic investigation into the lived experiences of MDT staff within an English Premier League Category One academy, providing novel insights into the complexities of interdisciplinary collaboration in this high-performance environment. Over 13 months, data were gathered through 81 interviews with MDT-facing staff and observations of 147 MDT meetings spanning 160 hours, augmented by the researcher’s ethnographic experiences and reflections as an MDT-facing academy sport psychologist. An inductive thematic analysis identified five key themes that define the MDT experience: (1) Rhythm of the Season, which explores how the cyclical nature of elite football influences MDT priorities and decision-making; (2) Staff Diversity, which extends beyond disciplinary boundaries to encompass professional backgrounds, employment structures, and social identities that affect team dynamics; (3) Partnerships and Conflicts, which examines the tensions between disciplinary silos and the pursuit of integrated player support; (4) Instability and Challenge, which underscores the pressures of organizational change, staff turnover, and first-team performance; and (5) MDT Operational Factors, which highlights the logistical and structural constraints that shape MDT effectiveness. This study enhances the understanding of MDT functioning in elite football, bridging gaps between organizational psychology and applied sport science. Through critically examining these themes, the findings offer practical implications for optimizing interdisciplinary collaboration, enhancing team cohesion, and fostering more effective support structures in elite player development environments.
Source: Scopus
An investigation of the cultural sensitivities and challenges associated with working in an elite male English football academy's multidisciplinary teams
Authors: Rowles, S., Wilding Pinckney, A., Mcdougall, J., Holder, T. and Callaway, A.
Journal: JOURNAL OF APPLIED SPORT PSYCHOLOGY
eISSN: 1533-1571
ISSN: 1041-3200
DOI: 10.1080/10413200.2025.2589727
Source: Web of Science (Lite)
An investigation of the cultural sensitivities and challenges associated with working in an elite male English football academy’s multidisciplinary teams
Authors: Rowles, S., Callaway, A., Wilding Pinckney, A., McDougall, J. and Holder, T.
Journal: Journal of Applied Sport Psychology
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
eISSN: 1533-1571
ISSN: 1041-3200
DOI: 10.1080/10413200.2025.2589727
Abstract:Elite football academies depend on multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs)to facilitate player development, yet the cultural sensitivities andoperational challenges faced by these teams remain inadequatelyexplored. This study presents a rigorous ethnographic investigationinto the lived experiences of MDT staff within an English PremierLeague Category One academy, providing novel insights into thecomplexities of interdisciplinary collaboration in this high-performance environment. Over 13 months, data were gatheredthrough 81 interviews with MDT-facing staff and observations of 147MDT meetings spanning 160 hours, augmented by the researcher’sethnographic experiences and reflections as an MDT-facing academysport psychologist. An inductive thematic analysis identified five keythemes that define the MDT experience: (1) Rhythm of the Season,which explores how the cyclical nature of elite football influencesMDT priorities and decision-making; (2) Staff Diversity, which extendsbeyond disciplinary boundaries to encompass professional back-grounds, employment structures, and social identities that affectteam dynamics; (3) Partnerships and Conflicts, which examines thetensions between disciplinary silos and the pursuit of integratedplayer support; (4) Instability and Challenge, which underscores thepressures of organizational change, staff turnover, and first-team per-formance; and (5) MDT Operational Factors, which highlights thelogistical and structural constraints that shape MDT effectiveness.This study enhances the understanding of MDT functioning in elitefootball, bridging gaps between organizational psychology andapplied sport science. Through critically examining these themes, thefindings offer practical implications for optimizing interdisciplinarycollaboration, enhancing team cohesion, and fostering more effectivesupport structures in elite player development environments.Lay Summary: Working within an elite English football academypresents unique challenges for multidisciplinary teams. This studyhighlights key challenges and cultural sensitivities within these multi-disciplinary teams. Practical advice is offered to help navigate teamdynamics, enable more effective collaboration and better supportyoung players throughout the season.
Source: Manual