Humour in Sports Coaching: ‘It’s a Funny Old Game’

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Author
Edwards, Christian
Jones, Robyn
Date
2018-06-14Acceptance date
2018-05-07
Date Deposited
2018-08-06
Type
Article
acceptedVersion
Publisher
SAGE
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The primary purpose of this article was to investigate the use and manifestation of humour within sports coaching. This was particularly in light of the social significance of humour as a critical component in cultural creation and negotiation. Data were gathered from a 10-month ethnographic study that tracked the players and coaches of Senghenydd City Football Club (a pseudonym) over the course of a full season. Precise methods of data collection included participant observation, reflective personal field notes, and ethnographic film. The results demonstrated the dominating presence of both ‘inclusionary putdowns’ and ‘disciplinary humour’, particularly in relation to how they contributed to the production and maintenance of the social order. Finally, a reflective conclusion discusses the temporal nature of the collective understanding evident among the group at Senghenydd, and its effect on the humour evident. In doing so, the work contributes to the body of knowledge regarding the social role of humour within sports coaching.
Journal/conference proceeding
Sociological Research Online;
Citation
Edwards, C.N.E. and Jones, R.L. (2018) 'Humour in Sports Coaching: ‘It’s a Funny Old Game’', Sociological Research Online
Description
Article published in Sociological Research Online on 14 June 2018 available at https://doi.org/10.1177/1360780418780047
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