ACTION RESEARCH: PREPARING MALTESE FOOTBALL PLAYERS FOR MIGRATORY BASED TRANSITIONS Adele Muscat A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Liverpool John Moores University for the degree of Doctor in Philosophy May 2017 1 Copyright and Disclaimer No portion of the work referenced in this thesis has been submitted in support of an application for another degree or qualification of this or any other university or institute of learning. This research was supervised by members of the academic staff but is essentially the work of the author. Views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily those of any other member of the Research Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences. Copyright in the text of this thesis rests with the author. The ownership of any intellectual property rights that may be described in the thesis is vested in Liverpool John Moores University and may not be available for use by any third parties without the written permission of the University. 2 Declaration Some of the work conducted has been presented at national/ international conferences and is listed below: Invited Symposia Challenges faced by Maltese players when migrating to play professional football overseas – Malta Youth Football Association Annual Seminar, Malta - September 2014 Preparing Young Players for Migration. An Action Research Study – Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology National Sports Conference, Malta - April 2016 Preparing Young Footballers for Migratory Transitions. An Action Research Study – Institute for Physical Education and Sport Annual Conference, Malta – February 2017 Conferences An examination of Maltese Players Psychological Health and Well-Being in the Migratory Transition to Playing Professionally Overseas – Department of Psychology, University of Malta, Malta - November 2013 Examining the development of young Maltese National Team football players in preparation for within-career transitions - Counselling Research Conference, Department of Counselling, University of Malta, Malta - February 2014 Small Island Mentality: Implications for Maltese Footballers experiencing a Migratory Transition - 4th International Conference on Qualitative Research in Sport, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK - September 2014 Small Island Mentality - Education through Sport – Institute of PE and Sport, University of Malta, Malta - April 2015 Small Island Mentality - 11th International Small Islands Conference Globalisation, Identities and Island Cultures – The Small Islands Cultures Research Initiative (SICRI), in partnership with the University of Malta, Gozo (Malta) – June 2015 Preparing young football players for migration to professional leagues overseas - The Role of Psychology in Maltese Society – Department of Psychology in conjunction with BetaPsi, University of Malta, Malta - November 2015 Preparing Young Footballers for Migratory Transitions – An Action Research Study – International Association of Counselling Conference, Malta - July 2016 The Challenges of Football Migration: An Action Research Study – Accepted for the Eighth International Conference on Sport and Society, London, July 2017. 3 Abstract The thesis outlines a collaborative research project that was undertaken between the Malta Football Association (MFA), the Malta National Sports School (NSS) and Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). Drawing on transition frameworks, models and contemporary literature (Schlossberg, 1981; Stambulova 2003; Wylleman & Lavalle, 2004; Morris, Tod & Oliver, 2015; Morris, Tod & Eubank, 2016; Richardson, Littlewood & Gilbourne, 2005; Richardson, Littlewood, Nesti & Benstead, 2012), the research adopted an action research methodology to examine the psycho-social and cultural challenges that young Maltese football players and parents experienced within migratory based transitions. The author adopted the role of practitioner- researcher to understand, plan and support a range of key stakeholders during the transition process. Specifically, Study One (Reconnaissance Phase) examined the challenges experienced by Maltese footballers that had migrated to European professional football. Individual semi- structured interviews were conducted with 12 male Maltese players who had experienced migration to a foreign club. Results evidenced that players experienced homesickness and lacked psycho-social knowledge and skills for an effective transition. Players also experienced culturally based challenges. The findings are framed around a unique and deeply embedded Maltese cultural identity. Study Two (Reconnaissance Phase) utilised a focus group methodology with parents of players from the Maltese Football Association (MFA) Academy, parents of young players that had previously experienced migration, head coaches from top Maltese nurseries, and coaches from the National Sports School (NSS) and MFA. Findings of Study One were disseminated to facilitate reflection, discussion and to identify issues that required consideration in order to better prepare young players for future migratory based transition. Study Three (Action Planning) used focus groups to disseminate the findings of Study One and Two with the Headmaster of the NSS, and parent representatives of the school. A number of change strategies were developed to improve the school’s programme of preparation for students who may migrate to foreign clubs. A separate action meeting was conducted with the Technical Director of the MFA to discuss and highlight change strategies to improve the MFA’s programme of preparation for young footballers seeking a career abroad in professional football. The Implementation and Monitoring phases focused on applying the action strategies agreed. These were; (i) to experience migration and independent living, (ii) psycho-social and cultural support and development of young players, and (iii) parental education. Regular evaluation of change strategy activities evidenced positive change and also continued to enhance the efficacy of the strategies being implemented. Young players who have migrated overseas over the past year and who had engaged in a programme of preparation prior to migration have coped well with the challenges they have so far faced. 4 Acknowledgements There are several individuals who have in some way guided and supported me throughout this PhD and for that I am very grateful. Dr Martin Littlewood, my supervisor, for directing me so often onto the right path over the past years. I felt so at ease discussing my work with you and I know that our working relationship will not stop here. Dr Mark Nesti, for introducing me to a deeper level of understanding in the work of applied sport psychologists in football. Loved our chats! Dr Dave Richardson, your insight into action research was invaluable. You guided me into believing it was the best way forward for my thesis at a time when I knew nothing about action research. You were right. Players, parents, coaches, stakeholders at the MFA and NSS with special mention to the current U21’s (born 1998). You have aided my growth as a sport psychologist so much and for that I am grateful. Kjell, for joining me along the PhD journey, for our many PhD discussions in Liverpool, Norway, Copenhagen, very often in some pub! Thanks for the laughs and for helping me keep things in perspective, you were always with a smile on your face! Mum for pushing me over the years to do my PhD. Dad for reading through my work and collecting related newspaper articles for me despite the fact that you have never had any interest in football whatsoever. My brother, for helping me with complex computer related matters, my sister-in-law and nieces for providing the time-outs and the affection. My friends: the girls who have been here all along the way, who took in my cranky moods when things weren’t going the way I wanted in my work. Nat, Lara and Andrew who provided a listening ear and fun breaks. Steve, my rock in tough times, for giving me insight into myself as a human being and as a psychologist, and for the hugs which helped to calm me down at times. Finally, to the Government of Malta, for the sports scholarship. It definitely helped to ease the financial burden. 5 Contents COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER ................................................................................. 2 DECLARATION .............................................................................................................. 3 ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................................. 5 CONTENTS ...................................................................................................................... 6 LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................... 10 LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................ 11 CHAPTER ONE – Introduction and Literature Review .......................................... 12 1.0 Introduction…………………………………………………………………... 13 1.1 Literature Review…………………………………………………………….. 15 1.2 Football Labour Migration…………………………………………………… 15 1.3 Football Labour Migration: A Maltese Perspective.......................................... 21 1.4 Career Transitions: A Theoretical Perspectives ................................................ 24 1.5 Career Transition Challenges…………………………………………………