Qualitative study explores enjoyment and emotional responses in children's football as competitiveness rises, suggesting coaching improvements.
Key Points
This research aims to understand how children's experiences of football change with increasing competitiveness and how enjoyment relates to these changes.
Conducted a qualitative study with 46 children in two age groups (<U12 and >U13) from grassroots football in the West Midlands, UK.
Utilized a Write-Draw-Show-Tell (WDST) approach, including focus groups and activities involving writing, drawing, and discussions.
Analysed data using reflexive thematic analysis alongside pen profile diagrams.
Identified five themes reflecting children's experiences: friendship and fun, winning and improvement, emotional highs and lows, support systems, and developing within the game.
Noted gender differences; girls focused on emotional support and social belonging, while boys highlighted competitiveness and performance pressures.
Children's enjoyment shifted from playful interactions to being influenced by performance expectations as they faced higher competitive demands.