More Than Meets the (Rationalistic) Eye: A Neophyte Sport Psychology Practitioner’s Reflections on the Micropolitics of Everyday Life within a Rugby League Academy

Abstract

Despite the welcome contributions of the reflective practice literature, an understanding of the complexities, nuances, and dilemmas of applied sport psychology practice is in need of further development. For example, there remains a paucity of inquiry addressing how practitioners make sense of, and subsequently write themselves into, the (micro)political landscape of a sporting organization. Utilizing a reflective, ethnographic approach, this article examined the first author’s engagement with the sociopolitical dynamics of everyday life within a professional rugby league academy. Key themes identified were that (a) players simultaneously collaborate and compete with one another, (b) tensions exist between the coaches, and (c) most players end up being released. Micropolitical theorizing was used as the primary heuristic framework, thus promoting the utility of these theories to inform critical appreciation of the day-to-day realities of applied sport psychology practice. The article concludes by highlighting the potential benefits of researchers, educators, and practitioners better engaging with the contested, ambiguous, and professionally challenging demands of practice than that which has been achieved to date.

Lay Summary: This article discusses the first author's critical reflections on issues of practice as a sport psychologist working within a professional rugby league academy. The issues discussed illustrate how power, conflict, and vulnerability typified day-to-day interactions within this sporting context and impacted upon applied practice.