This paper reports on research that identifies the disciplinary mechanism of surveillance and power at work within pathways for coach education in the Australian swimming culture. Utilising autoethnography and Foucault, one Australian swimming coach's experiences are explored, particularly his experiences within the mentor-mentee relationship of the Australian swimming coaching culture. It is contended that mentor coaches act as intermediaries of the wider sporting organisation and apply mechanisms to that are perceived as encouraging conformity and obedient, docile bodies within the mentor-mentee relationship. This research investigates the mentor-mentee relationship that one coach was immersed in and seeks to understand the complex interrelationships central to the development of an individual coach's practice.
Ethnodrama combined with Goffman’s ‘presentation of self’ is used to explore three elite swimmers’ ‘presentation of self’ in relation to the dominant ideology of ‘slim to win’. The ‘presentation of self’ of three swimmers is presented and analyzed according to their front stage (e.g., posting of specific images; direct media quotes) and backstage (e.g., an autoethnographic representation) performances. Goffman’s concepts of expressions ‘given’ and ‘given off’ are used to highlight how the ideology comes to be presented to others and whether the swimmer negotiates and/or contests it. As an analysis and representation, ethnodrama affords the opportunity to reveal the extent an athlete may go to to avoid a failing ‘presentation of self’ in relation to ‘slim to win,’ highlighting potential health effects (e.g., physical, emotional).
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