Coaches, captains and constructing culture : a case study of the Silver Ferns : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Sport & Exercise at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Date
2019
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Massey University
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Abstract
Organizational culture and leadership can influence the success of both businesses and high performance sports teams. This current research is based on Schein’s (2010) three level theoretical model of organizational culture using artefacts (rites, rituals and symbols), values and beliefs, and core assumptions. Female sport in general, and female high performance sport specifically, is not well served by the media. Receiving even scanter coverage and insights, is scholarly work on women’s elite sport investigated from the perspective of team captains and coaches. Therefore, this study examines New Zealand’s national netball team, the Silver Ferns from 1960-2015, and the ways in which captains and coaches have constructed the culture of the team. Employing a case study methodology, primary data was generated through the use of semi-structured, in-depth interviews with former Silver Fern captains and coaches. This qualitative research approach provided insights into the various experiences and stories of the participants, and described other aspects such as their actions, beliefs and interests (Denzin & Lincoln, 2005). A consistent finding was team member adherence to the values of work ethic, pride, and good behaviour on and off the court. In addition, other constant characteristics included pride in selection, in wearing the black dress and the symbol of the silver fern. By contrast, no single model of coaching emerged as a constant across the eras. There was also a lack of consistent rituals and a range of inconsistencies in the ways various captains and coaches perceived the emphasis placed on winning. An outcome of this unique study is a historical insight into a New Zealand female high performance sport team, the Silver Ferns, and its evolving team culture and leadership. It is hoped that these insights will inform current and future best practice in elite-level female sport teams and help achieve further consistent high quality performances, thereby heightening the prospect of winning.
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Keywords
Silver Ferns (Netball team), Sports teams, New Zealand, Management, Netball, Coaching, Women netball players