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Elite Football Coaches Experiences and Sensemaking about Being Fired: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Marte Bentzen

    (Department of Teacher Education and Outdoor Studies, The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, 0806 Oslo, Norway)

  • Göran Kenttä

    (The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, 114 33 Stockholm, Sweden
    The School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada)

  • Pierre-Nicolas Lemyre

    (Department of Sport and Social Sciences, The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, 0806 Oslo, Norway)

Abstract

Background: Chronic job insecurity seems to be a prominent feature within elite sport, where coaches work under pressure of dismissals if failing to meet performance expectations of stakeholders. The aim of the current study was to get a deeper understanding of elite football coaches’ experiences of getting fired and how they made sense of that process. Method: A qualitative design using semi-structured interviews was conducted with six elite football coaches who were fired within the same season. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was chosen as framework to analyze the data. Results: The results reflected five emerging themes: Acceptance of having an insecure job, working for an unprofessional organization and management, micro-politics in the organization, unrealistic and changing performance expectation, and emotional responses. Conclusion: All coaches expressed awareness and acceptance regarding the risk of being fired. However, they experienced a lack of transparency and clear feedback regarding the causes of dismissal. This led to negative emotional reactions as the coaches experienced being evaluated by poorly defined expectations and by anonymous stakeholders. Sports organizations as employers should strive to be transparent during dismissal. In addition, job insecurity is a permanent stressor for coaches and should be acknowledged and targeted within coach education.

Suggested Citation

  • Marte Bentzen & Göran Kenttä & Pierre-Nicolas Lemyre, 2020. "Elite Football Coaches Experiences and Sensemaking about Being Fired: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-13, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:14:p:5196-:d:386486
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marte Bentzen & Göran Kenttä & Anne Richter & Pierre-Nicolas Lemyre, 2020. "Impact of Job Insecurity on Psychological Well- and Ill-Being among High Performance Coaches," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-15, September.

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