Welcome to the first issue of International Journal Sport Policy. The rationale for a new social science journal is twofold: first, it argued that there need provide an outlet for...

Purpose The article explores the process of using LinkedIn to recruit hard-to-reach groups, reflecting on our experience football industry. We propose as a viable option mitigate recruitment challenges, particularly in employment-focussed research. Design/methodology/approach examine how was used 43 backroom staff for sociological research study. It outlines contact participants, ethical considerations made throughout and reflects why effective primarily Findings discuss importance insider...

This article examines the effects of globalization on well-being migrant professional athletes. Interviews with 20 touring golfers reveal that players experience many personal problems—such as loneliness, isolation, low decision latitude, social support, and effort-reward imbalance—which have been identified “strong predictors mental ill-health” (Leka & Jain, 2010, p. 65). Feelings loneliness isolation developed were regularly apart from family friends, spent most their time other whom...

Abstract Drawing upon aspects of figurational sociology, this paper examines the practice sports development at a time rapidly changing social and political policy. In particular, how officers (SDOs) experience attempt to manage organizational change. The study was based on semi-structured interviews with sixteen SDOs in West Midlands North England. kinds change experienced by were associated perceived bureaucratization their role, increased pressure develop partnerships variety sporting...

Abstract The purpose of this article is to provide a figurational analysis the plans for participation legacy London 2012. In build-up hosting Games, there have been three different Prime Ministers and two Mayors; therefore, changing political, economic, landscape that impacted on policy formation feature article. From sociological perspective, tends be complex, often contradictory messy process frequently lacking convincing evidence base. Such features are quite apparent within policies...

The past two decades have seen an increasing role for the UK community and voluntary sector (CVS) in health promotion disadvantaged areas, largely based on assumptions part of funders that CVS providers are better able to engage 'hard-to-reach' population groups services than statutory providers. However, there is limited empirical research exploring provider practices this field. Using ethnographic data, paper examines experiences a network seeking residents health-promoting region North...

LGBT+ issues and advocacy are becoming more considered in various policies throughout society. However, sport is often described as a resistive space to such policies. This paper examines the effectiveness of current equality within English sports organisations. Specifically, 188 National Governing Body (NGB) were reviewed well 67 from other relevant We utilised Foucauldian discourse analysis identify dominant narratives From our analysis, we suggest that what explicit partial stasis. stasis...

This paper explores public health policy implementation through partnership working at the local level by examining how actors from health, and wider workforce make sense of work on social inequalities in health. An ethnographic case study was used to examine one strategic north-west England during a period significant resource constraint. Semi-structured interviews were primary method data generation. Sensitising concepts figurational sociology develop theoretical account directed narrowing...

The study of sport policy and politics is still dominated by academics working in disciplines other than political science, public administration, studies International Relations (IR). I...

Performance Analysis (PA) is viewed as an integral feature of soccer; however, the processes underpinning such practice are often described simple, linear procedures. This fails to acknowledge dynamism PA and given increased investment employment analysts in professional soccer, scrutiny current duties associated with role would seem timely. To this purpose, eight full-time English Football League (EFL) National (National League) participated in-depth semi-structured interviews transcripts...

It is now well recognized that the global spread of modern achievement sport has occurred in context wider social processes, including growing significance sport, medicaliz...

Eric Dunning and Norbert Elias began developing their concept 'quest for excitement' in the 1960s. In this paper we consider context of work on civilizing process leisure spare-time spectrum, applying it to an analysis global diffusion transformation yoga. so doing, develop a preliminary theoretical account its popularity as leisure-time movement form. We specifically extent which yoga's from late 19th century onwards can be understood socially generated psychological quest excitement rather...

In this paper we revisit The Established and the Outsiders (Elias Scotson 1965; second edition 1994). We argue that Elias was so intent upon demonstrating heuristic value of his theory established–outsider relations he allowed these concerns to cloud assessment Scotson's data. paradox is had already developed more sophisticated flexible tools for analysing dynamic complexities human figurations. Finally, suggest problems encountered in maintaining an effective degree detachment study may...

Preparations for London 2012 included promises a sporting legacy across Britain. APS data suggest that, despite slight spike in 2012, we have not experienced the rise participation promised. The importance of preparations were well documented but little research has examined these processes. We examine planning within non-Olympic city England, Birmingham. Thirty-Seven semi-structured interviews conducted with people delivering sport Birmingham to provide figurational analysis relationships...

Association football is a lucrative sport with high financial rewards for top players. However, there has been little empirical work on the lifestyles of professional footballers. Based interviews 29 current and former male footballers, this paper examines relationship between money, status image management within outside changing room. The concept conspicuous consumption used to help explain players’ attitudes their relationships others environment how they advertise earnings in an where...

Research question: This article examines how sport development officers (SDOs) employed within national governing bodies of (NGB) managed Sport England's top-down policy changes from 2008 to 2015. The main research question the experiences SDOs as they responded to, and these at community level.Research methods: In-depth, semi-structured interviews gathered qualitative data 18 employees four NGBs, including 6 SDOs, Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), senior managers a representative England,...

Drawing on figurational sociology, this article examines issues of money that are central to touring professional golfers’ workplace experiences. Based interviews with 16 professionals, results indicate the monetary rewards available for top golfers continues increase; however, such recompense is relatively small numbers and majority fare poorly. Results suggest playing tour other like-minded fosters internalized constraints relating behavior, referred as “habitus,” whereby many players...

Legacy promises from London 2012 meant that those working in sport local, non-host areas Britain were expected to facilitate more sporting opportunities for local citizens. preparations occurred the context of many other constraints stemmed Government budget cuts and provision leisure-time leisure activities. This paper presents new evidence on a significantly under-researched area studies, namely: experiences delivering leisure-sport city how they responded national legacy promises. Using...

In this essay we set out to rectify the failure of English Football League monitor consequences three points for a win reform it introduced in 1981. We begin by identifying conditions leading its introduction before going on present and after goal‐scoring patterns at highest level football. also compare situation with impact has had upon elite Italian Spanish assess these processes from figurational perspective make specific use Elias's games model approach. conclude that football...