Nduka, Bright (2024) Head-related Policies in Boys’ Professional Football Academy: A Figurational Analysis. In: Postgraduate Research Conference 2024 at Leeds Beckett University - PGR Conference by PGRs for PGRs!, 20th June 2024, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Professional football is recognized as a hazardous occupation, with injury rates surpassing those of other industries (Roderick et al., 2000). Among these injuries, concussions have notably risen among athletes in recent years, prompting increased research attention (Liston et al., 2016) and the development of policies prioritizing athlete safety and well-being (Malcolm, 2021).
This study explores the impact of head-related policies on the health and welfare of young boys in professional football academies. It examines factors that have facilitated or impeded policy implementation, investigating how these policies have shaped the attitudes of these boys toward football.
Using a methodological triangulation approach, data will be collected through documentary analysis, observation, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups, ensuring credibility in the gathered data and ensuing findings (Bryman, 2012). The sample comprises three purposively selected U-16 football academies in the UK, involving players, coaches, parents/guardians, club doctors, and physiotherapists.
Initial documentary analysis reveals that the formulation of these policies primarily focused on children/teenagers, are informed by research conducted on adults. Thus, the study aims to assess the suitability and effectiveness of these policies in safeguarding the health and safety of boys in professional football academies, with other data collection methods further exploring this objective.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Speech)
Status:	Unpublished
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
School/Department:	School of Science, Technology and Health
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/11647

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