Managing group relations among elite netball players By Selloane Martha Mosoahle Mini dissertation Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts In Sociology in the FACULTY OF HUMANITIES at the University of Johannesburg Supervisor: Prof J. M. Uys Co- supervisor: Prof. Cora Burnett - Louw August 2006 1 Acknowledgements and declaration There are people in this world who always make a difference in other people’s lives. I would like to dedicate this dissertation to such people. A special thank you to the following people who directly and indirectly helped me get through this study. Firstly, the God Almighty for giving me the ability to study and the courage to keep going even when it as difficult. My two supervisors Prof Uys and Prof Burnett for all their time, ideas and effort they put into this piece of work. To my wonderful mom who always believed in me and encouraged me to work hard. To my beautiful niece and my handsome nephew for all their ideas. To the management of the University of Johannesburg Sociology Department for awarding me the Anton van Wyk Bursary. To the Statkon crew for capturing all the data and making it available to me in time. I am truly grateful to you all. I would also like to thank the National Research Foundation (NRF) for their financial assistance of this project. Any opinion, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and therefore the NRF does not accept the liability in regard thereto. I hereby declare that the dissertation submitted for the degree Masters in Sociology at the University of Johannesburg is my own work, and has not been formally submitted to another university for any other degree. Martha Mosoahle Johannesburg 2006 i 2 Abstract South African has experienced a decline in world netball rankings from being second in 1995 to fifth position since 2003. One of the reasons for this situation relates to the drop out of talented players, sometimes before even reaching the elite level. Secondly, the immigration of senior players to other countries is also a major concern. The aim of this research is to establish the main factors that contribute to this state of affairs by considering the sacrifices that are made by elite netball players with regard to the rewards that they obtain in return. Cohesion was also investigated to establish the impact it has on players. Management of South African elite netball was revisited to determine the effect it has on players. Possible factors that enhance participation among players were also investigated. The study was conducted by combining a quantitative with qualitative approach. The results indicated that serious attention should be given to professional management of elite netball to ensure that the rewards received counteract the sacrifices of an elite netball career. The biggest challenge in facing netball in South Africa however is the fact that netball is an amateur sport. Strategies were offered and recommendations made on how to effectively manage elite netball players in South Africa. ii 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page numbers ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND DECLARATION i ABSTRACT ii TABLE OF CONTENTS iii LIST OF TABLES vi LIST OF GRAPHS v CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Problem statement 2 1.3 The elite netball player 2 1.4 Elite netball in South Africa 3 1.4.1 Factors affecting group relations 6 1.4.2 The role of group relations in the functioning of groups 7 1.5 Theoretical approach 7 1.6 Conclusion 7 CHAPTER TWO: FACTORS AFFECTING ELITE NETBALL PLAYER’S PARTICIPATION 2.1 Introduction 9 2.2 Factors affecting elite netball player’s participation 9 2.2.1 The nature of sacrifices 10 2.2.2 The number of rewards 13 2.2.3 Cohesion 17 2.2.4 Group conflict and management 25 2.3 Conclusion 27 iii 4 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH DESIGN 3.1 Introduction 29 3.2 Research approach 29 3.3 Quantitative component 30 3.3.1 Structure of the questionnaire 30 3.3.2 Selection of respondents 30 3.3.3 Collection of data 32 3.4 Qualitative component 3.4.1 Structure of the questionnaire 32 3.4.2 Sampling of respondents 32 3.4.3 Collection of data 33 3.5 Insider outsider approach 33 3.6 Advantages of being an insider 34 3.7 Disadvantages of being an insider 35 3.8 Ethical considerations 35 3.9 Conclusion 36 CHAPTER FOUR: RESEARCH FINDINGS 4.1 Introduction 37 4.2 Profile of respondents 37 4.2.1 Participation level of respondents 37 4.2.2. Racial distribution of respondents 38 4.2.3 Age distribution of respondents 39 4.3 Sacrifices made by elite netball players 40 4.3.1 Material sacrifices 40 4.3.2 Social sacrifices 43 4.4 The nature of social rewards as a motivator to specialise in netball 4.4.1 Material rewards as a form of motivation to specialise in netball 45 4.4.2 Social rewards 46 iv 5 4.4.3 Psychological rewards 48 4.4.4 Physical rewards 49 4.5 The level of cohesion among elite netball players 51 4.5.1 I get along with other players from different races and cultures 51 4.5.2 The extent to which you consider your fellow netball players 53 to be your friends 4.5.3 To what extent would you discuss your personal problems 56 with your fellow netball players 4.6 Discrimination against netball players 58 4.6.1 Racial discrimination 58 4.6.2 Minority group discrimination 59 4.6.3 The discrimination based on the low status of the sport 59 4.7 Competition among elite netball players 60 4.8 Group conflict and management 61 4.9 Players’ views on whether they are allowed to air their views 64 on matters that concern them 4.10 The level of satisfaction with regard to management 65 4.11 Feelings of pride with regard to association with netball 67 4.12 Conclusion 67 CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUDING REMARKS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 5.1 Introduction 69 5.2 Research problem 69 5.3 Summary of the main literature 70 5.3.1 The nature of sacrifices 70 5.3.2 The amount of rewards 70 5.3.3 The level of cohesion 71 5.3.4 The relationship between players and management 71 5.4 Research strategy 71 5.5 Summary of findings 72 v 6 5.6 Recommended strategies to enhance participation among 72 elite netball players 5.6.1 Addressing financial constraints 73 5.6.2 Formal netball structures 73 5.6.3 Recognition of netball as the major female sport 74 5.7 Limitations of the research 75 5.8 Recommendations for future research 75 5.9 Findings and conclusion 76 REFERENCES 78 APPENDIX A 83 vi 7 List of tables Page numbers Table 4. 1: Participation levels of respondents 38 Table 4. 2: Racial discrimination of respondents 38 Table 4. 3: Material sacrifices according to participation levels 41 Table 4. 4: Material sacrifices according to racial backgrounds 42 Table 4. 5: Social sacrifices according to participation levels 43 Table 4. 6: Social sacrifices according to racial backgrounds 44 Table 4. 7: Social rewards according to participation levels 46 Table 4. 8: Social rewards according to racial backgrounds 47 Table 4. 9: Psychological rewards according to participation levels 48 Table 4. 10: Psychological rewards according to racial backgrounds 49 Table 4. 11: Physical rewards according to participation levels 50 Table 4. 12: Physical rewards according to racial backgrounds 50 vii 8 List of graphs Page numbers Figure 4. 1: Age groups of different netball participants 39 Figure 4. 2: Getting along with other players according to 52 participation levels Figure 4. 3: Getting along with other players according 53 to different racial backgrounds Figure 4. 4: Friendship levels according to participation levels 54 Figure 4. 5: Friendship levels according to racial backgrounds 55 Figure 4. 6: Discussion of personal problems according to 56 participation levels Figure 4. 7: Discussion of personal problems according to 57 racial backgrounds Figure 4. 8: Dealing with competition according to participation levels 60 Figure 4. 9: Problems between players and management according 62 to participation levels Figure 4. 10: Problems between players and management according 63 to racial backgrounds Figure 4. 11: Player’s views on matters that concern them 64 Figure 4. 12: Satisfaction level with regard to management according 65 to participation levels Figure 4. 13: Satisfaction level with regard to management according 66 to racial backgrounds Figure 4. 14: I feel proud to be associated with netball in this country 67 viii 9 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction In 1995, the South African national netball team was given the opportunity to participate internationally again after twenty years of isolation. That same year the team was able to take part in the world netball championships, and obtained a silver medal. That means South Africa was placed second in the world netball rankings. Since then, the South African team was unable to obtain its second position again. Instead it went down to position four in 1999 and position five in 2003. The South African team is still ranked fifth in the world in 2006. Netball is regarded as the most popular female sport in South Africa with a high participation rate at school, tertiary, regional as well as provincial levels. According to the previous president of Netball South Africa, Ntambi Ravele, over two million girls and women participate in the sport. The problem is however that most of these participants drop out of the sport as soon as they reach a higher level of play.