This thesis aims at providing a cross-cultural study of how football museums represent and construct identities, both collective and personal. The research is based on a multi-sited ethnography at selected football museums in the UK, Germany, and China, employing participant observation, photographic recording and online research methods. This investigation sharpens an anthropological awareness of constructions of multiple layered identities by examining football museums' exhibiting practices and activity programmes, as well as their built environments and cultural settings. The research also offers a perspective on museum visitors, who consume football museums with diverse personal and collective identity claims. Looking into the largely under-explored terrain of football museums, this research joins continuing anthropological efforts to understand identity work while also exploring continuing tensions inherent in a marriage between museums and football. The thesis contributes to the research field of football/sports museums with an ethnographic emphasis and a cross-cultural range.

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Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

Research paper (M.I.M.)--Victoria University of Wellington, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

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Introduction: Previous research has shown that sport performance can be facilitated in football using regulatory fit. However, little research has investigated effects of regulatory fit on performance and psychological responses within pressure conditions. Objective: To examine whether female football players experiencing promotion fit will perform better during a football passing task under perceived pressure, compared to a neutral (no fit; control) condition. Methods: In a pre–post-test, independent groups study design, 33 (M=18.03, SD=2.52) female football players were assigned into either an experimental group (n:15, i.e., promotion fit) or a control group (n:18, i.e., no fit). Participants completed a passing drill within two conditions, that is pre-test in no pressure and post-test in pressure, wherein the experimental group received promotion fit instructions while the control group received neutral instructions. Participants also completed a series of psychological measures that are relevant in the study of the performance–pressure relationship (i.e., affect, anxiety, self-confidence, and mental effort). Results: Participants in the promotion fit (experimental) group were protected against performance deterioration to a greater extent than participants in the control group. Furthermore, the experimental group showed psychological responses when performing under pressure that can explain why their performance was protected from deterioration: no difference in mental effort, cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, self-confidence and negative affect. Conclusion: Female football players experiencing promotion fit were protected against performance deterioration when performing under pressure. Such promotion fit experience influenced various psychological responses in the direction that are known to be beneficial in sport context when performing under perceived pressure. / Introduktion: Tidigare forskning visar att prestation inom idrott kan underlättas genom användningen av Regulatory fit. Dock, få studier har undersökt effekten av Regulatory fit på prestation och psykologiska reponser under pressade omständigheter. Objektiv: Att undersöka om kvinnliga fotbollsspelare under upplevelsen av promotion fit presterar bättre under upplevd press i en passningsövning, i jämförelse med fotbollsspelare som inte upplever promotion fit (kontrollgrupp) i en passningsövning. Metod: I ett för- och efter-test, oberoende gruppdesign, 33 (M=18.3, SD=2.52) kvinnliga fotbollsspelare tilldelades till antingen en experimentgrupp (n=15, i.e., promotion fit) eller en kontrollgrupp (n=18, i.e., inte fit). Deltagarna genomförde en passningsövning under två förhållanden, vilket innebar, för-test utan press och efter-test med press, där experimentgruppen erhöll instruktioner i promotion fit medan kontrollgruppen erhöll neutrala instruktioner. Deltagarna genomförde även en rad olika psykologiska mätningar som bär relevans inom området rörande press och prestation (i.e., affekt, ångest, självförtroende och mental ansträngning). Resultat: Deltagarna som upplevde promotion fit (experimentgrupp) skyddades mot försämring i prestation i större utsträckning än deltagarna i kontrollgruppen. Fortsättningsvis, experimentgruppen uppvisade psykologiska responser som kan förklara varför prestation under press var skyddat mot försämring: ingen förändring i mental ansträngning, kognitiv oro, somatisk oro, självförtroende och negativ affekt. Konklusion: Resultaten indikerar att kvinnliga fotbollsspelare som upplever promotion fit är skyddade mot försämring i prestation under upplevd press. Upplevelsen av promotion fit influerade diverse psykologiska repsonser i den riktning som anses vara fördelaktig inom idrottssammanhang vid prestation under upplevd press.

Soccer has a global reach and is entrenched in the lives of millions of people throughout the world, but the culture surrounding it is not as strong and never has been in the United States. Nonetheless, there is a recent emergence of American supporters groups that exhibit characteristics similar to those outside of the US. This ethnographic study focuses on one such group, the Timbers Army, to explore how they construct their own unique supporter identity and to understand how participants come to see the group relative to their understanding of the world at local and global levels. To explore this, this work employs globalization theory, in particular that of cultural hybridization and glocalization. In turn, through an iterative, grounded theory approach, the findings elucidate key concepts related to these theories. Briefly, the findings show how the Timbers Army's particular identity is constructed through multiple influences including an attachment to the city of Portland, a fierce regional rivalry, national references and recognition, and an awareness of and interaction with the global socio-cultural institution of soccer. This work is the first to acknowledge the burgeoning movement of American soccer supporters and provides a starting point for further inquiry into groups that exhibit both a strong local attachment and an outward looking global perspective.

Thesis (MScSportSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Talent identification and early selection into a professional soccer academy has been reported to be very important for the long term development of footballing expertise (Le Gall et al., 2010). This awareness of the need for early identification of gifted youngsters has led to an increased number of soccer centres of excellence and academies throughout the world. Traditionally, identification and selection of promising individuals into youth soccer academies has been linked to a coach’s subjectivity and preconceived image of the player. Once this method is used in isolation it can result in tedious misjudgements in talent identification - hence the emphasis on science-based approaches. Through soccer-specific research, a number of anthropometric and physical parameters have been linked to successful performance in soccer. The primary aims of the study were to explore the anthropometric, somatotype and functional fitness characteristics of young academy soccer in South Africa and Zimbabwe and to distinguish variables that can be relevant for Talent Identification. The study followed a quantitative non-intervention design with a sample of convenience. A total of 74 young soccer players (Age 15.9±0.81) from South African (n = 41) and Zimbabwean (n = 33) soccer academies were purposively sampled. The following anthropometric variables were measured following the International Society of the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) protocol: body mass and height; skinfolds – (triceps, subscapular, biceps, iliac crest, supraspinale, abdominal, front thigh, medial calf); Girths – (arm relaxed, arm flexed and tensed, waist, gluteal, and calf); bone breadths – (biepicondylar humerus and biepicondylar femur). Functional fitness variables that were measured include: lower back muscle flexibility (sit and reach test), upper body flexibility (shoulder flexibility), leg power using (vertical and horizontal jumps), overhead throw (2kg medicine ball throw), speed tests (10, 20, and 40m sprint tests), agility (Illinois test) and aerobic fitness (Hoff test). There were no statistically significant differences in age, body mass, height, fat mass, body mass index, lower back flexibility, right shoulder flexibility, 20m sprint, and endurance capacity (p>0.05). Statistically significant differences were found in percentage body fat (p>0.05), sum of 8 skinfolds, fat free mass, somatotype, left shoulder flexibility, upper and lower body power, 10m and 40m sprints (p<0.01). South African players were found to have higher %BF and sum of skinfolds and then Zimbabwean players. It was concluded that Zimbabwean players performed significantly better than South Africans in agility, 10m, 40m sprints, vertical jump, horizontal jump and overhead throw and had better future chances of success in soccer. Goalkeepers were taller and heavier, while midfielders and defenders were found to be lighter and shorter. Goalkeepers were the most agile group, while forwards were the fastest group. Agility, power and speed were the most important variables that can be used during talent selection and coaches should purposefully work to develop these characteristic during training sessions. Height and weight are relevant in allocating positional roles to players and not in Talent Identification. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Talentidentifisering en vroeë seleksie in ʼn professionele sokkerakademie blyk baie belangrik te wees vir die langtermyn ontwikkeling van sokker vaardighede (Le Gall et al., 2010). Hierdie behoefte vir die vroeë identifisering van talentvolle jong spelers het aanleiding gegee tot ʼn toename in sokker sentra van uitnemendheid en akademies wêreldwyd. Tradisioneel is die identifisering en seleksie van belowende individue vir toelating tot ʼn jeug sokker akademie aan ʼn afrigter se subjektiwiteit en voorafopgestelde idees van die speler gekoppel. Wanneer die metode in isolasie gebruik word kan dit dodelike mistastings in talent identifisering teweeg bring – daarom die klem op wetenskaplik gebaseerde benaderings. Deur sokker spesifieke navorsing is daar alreeds ʼn aantal antropometriese en fisieke parameters aan suksesvolle prestasie in sokker gekoppel. Die primêre doelwitte van die studie was om die antropometrie, somatotipe en funksionele fiksheidskenmerke van jong sokker akademie spelers in Suid-Afrika en Zimbabwe te ondersoek en om veranderlikes wat relevant vir talentidentifisering kan wees te onderskei. Die studie het ʼn kwantitatiewe, nie-intervensie ontwerp met ʼn gerieflikheidsteekproef gevolg. ʼn Totaal van 74 jong sokkerspelers van Suid-Afrika (n = 41) en Zimbabwe (n = 33) sokker akademies is doelgerig geselekteer (ouderdom 15.9 ± 0.81 jaar). Die volgende antropometriese veranderlikes is ooreenkomstig met die International Society of the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) protokol gemeet: liggaamsmassa en -lengte; velvoue (triseps, subskapulêr, biseps, iliokristale vou, supraspinalis, abdominale, quadriseps, mediale gastroknemius); omtrekke (arm ontspanne, arm in fleksie en gespanne, middel, gluteale, en kuit); been breedtes (biepikondelêre humerus en biepikondelêre femur). Funksionele fiksheidsveranderlikes wat gemeet is was: laerug spierlenigheid (sit en reik toets), boonste ekstremiteit lenigheid (skouer lenigheid), beenkrag (vertikale en horisontale spronge), oorhoofse gooi (2kg medisyne balgooi), spoedtoets (10, 20, en 40m spoedtoetse), ratsheid (Illinois toets) en aërobiese fiksheid (Hoff toets). Geen statisties betekenisvolle verskille is in ouderdom, liggaamsmassa, -lengte, vetmassa, liggaamsmassa indeks, laerug lenigheid, regterskouer lenigheid, 20 meter spoed en uithouvermoë kapasiteit (p>0.05) tussen SA en Zimbabwe spelers gevind nie. Statisties betekenisvolle verskille is wel in persentasie liggaamsvet (p<0.05), som van agt velvoue, vetvrye massa, somatotipe, linkerskouer lenigheid, boonste en onderste ekstremiteit liggaamskrag, 10m en 40m spoed (p<0.01) gevind. Suid-Afrikaanse spelers het ʼn hoër persentasie liggaamvet en som van velvoue as die Zimbabwiese spelers gehad. Daar is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat Zimbabwiese spelers betekenisvol beter as Suid-Afrikaanse spelers in die meeste fiksheidstoetse gevaar het en waarskynlik beter kanse vir sukses in sokker het. Doelwagters was groter en swaarder, terwyl middelveld spelers en verdedigers ligter en korter was. Doelwagters was die ratste groep, terwyl voorspelers die vinnigste groep was. Ratsheid, krag en spoed is as die belangrikste veranderlikes geïdentifiseer wat tydens talentidentifisering gebruik kan word en afrigters moet doelbewus daaraan werk om hierdie eienskappe tydens oefensessies te ontwikkel. Lengte en gewig is relevant in die toekenning van posisionele rolle aan spelers en nie in talentidentifisering nie. Hierdie is die eerste studie waarin die antropometriese en funksionele fiksheidsprofiele van jong sokkerspelers in Suid-Afrika en Zimbabwe met mekaar vergelyk word. Dit baan die weg vir ander navorsers om hierop uit te brei deur sokkerspelers van ander lande in Afrika te toets en by te dra tot die kennis van sokkerspelers in Afrika. Hierdie navorsing skep ook die basis vir afrigters en oefenkundiges in Afrika om die bydrae wat die wetenskap maak ten opsigte van liggaamsamestelling en funksionele fiksheid beter te verstaan om talentidentifisering in sokker te verbeter.

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The aim of this study was to investigate how timing training by Interactive Metronome ® (IM) affects motor timing and rhythmicity in soccer players. Twenty-four female soccer players (age 19 ± 2.8) participated, and were randomly assigned to either a control or an IM training group. All participants took part in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) session before the start of the training period, to find out what brain areas are activated during different tempos. The fMRI outcomes indicate that some of the active areas are the inferior parietal cortex (BA 40), frontal/SMA and precentral cortex and postcentral (BA 6) and inferior frontal cortex (BA 45). Pre- and post-measurements of motor timing deviation and variability was made. The result shows that after four week of IM training a significant improvement of motor timing was found for the IM group in comparison to the control group. The findings indicate that timing training can improve timing ability in healthy sport perpetrators.