Developing micropolitical literacy in professional soccer: a performance analyst’s tale

Abstract

To date, there has been a paucity of inquiry into the contextual learning of performance analysts in elite-level sport. A narrative approach was used to explore Ben’s understanding of his early career experiences as a performance analyst in professional soccer. In our discussion of Ben’s career stories, we contend that the inherent structural vulnerabilities of his job, as well as Ben’s desire to advance his position and protect his professional self, meant that he had to learn to act (micro)politically. It is believed that the findings of this initial exploratory study offer some support towards educating performance analysts about how they might engage with, and subsequently navigate their way through, the social–political realities that are an inherent feature of organisational life in sport.

Keywords:

• organisational life
• micropolitical literacy
• performance analysis
• self-understanding
• vulnerability