Abstract The aim of this study is to investigate academy managers' perception and experience of which preventive organizational and environmental protective factors they think are important for the short- and long-term mental health of male elite-aspiring football players in Swedish elite football. Furthermore, the study intends to better understand how football clubs can work to facilitate different types of transitions in players' careers in Sweden. The study is based on a qualitative method, where six male academy managers, around the country, five from the Swedish top league and one from the second league were interviewed. The results indicate that key protective factors within a club are linked to the team coach, who, with a holistic view of individuals and the ability to create a sports environment, can promote an open and trusting climate that enhances mental health. Other protective factors include the availability of support resources, awareness among staff and players regarding risk factors, early interventions promoting mental health, and collaboration with others to strengthen the player and to facilitate career transitions. Based on the study's findings in relation to our theoretical frame works‘Psychological Safety’ and ‘The Holistic Athlete Career model’ as well asprevious research, the conclusion can be drawn that academy managerscan develop an educational plan based on a holistic view of individuals and a psychologically safe sports environment that permeates all levels of the football academy, as well as recruit coaches who are able to implement it. Additionally, academy managers are in a position to allocate resources in the best way to promote mental health and support young individuals during various career transitions while considering different stages of their lives.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:mau-61519 |
| Date | January 2023 |
| Creators | Culjak, Ivica, Engström, Marcus |
| Publisher | Malmö universitet, Institutionen Idrottsvetenskap (IDV) |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | Swedish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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