Continued Participation of Adolescent Males in Rugby Union: Stakeholders’ Perspectives

in The Sport Psychologist

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Paul A. Sellars Cardiff Metropolitan University

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Stephen D. Mellalieu Cardiff Metropolitan University

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Camilla J. Knight Swansea University

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2017-0014
Keywords:
dropout; evaluation; retention; sport psychology; transitions; youth sport
In Print:
Volume 32: Issue 2
Page Range:
93–101
Restricted access

This study explored stakeholders’ perceptions of Welsh adolescent participation in rugby union. A Straussian grounded-theory approach was adopted and data collection was conducted via semistructured interviews with 15 individuals involved in Welsh adolescent rugby union. Data were analyzed through open and axial coding procedures and theoretical integration. Stakeholders perceived that continued rugby participation resulted from a positive evaluation of one’s participation in the sport and one’s ability to cope with the demands experienced throughout transitions during adolescence. Overall, the findings provide a substantive grounded theory of stakeholders’ perceptions of continued adolescent participation in Welsh rugby union, and applied implications, in an aim to promote continued sport participation.

Sellars and Mellalieu are with the Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, United Kingdom. Knight is with the College of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom.

Sellars (psellars@cardiffmet.ac.uk) is corresponding author.
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