Athlete-to-Athlete Verbal Aggression: A Case Study of Interpersonal Communication Among Elite Australian Footballers

Abstract

This case study examined interpersonal communication in sport in the form of verbal aggression among elite athletes in the Australian Football League (AFL). It focused on the experience and motivation of athletes who use athlete-to-athlete verbal aggression and the responses of athletes who have been the targets of verbal aggression during games. In addition, the reasons athletes have for not engaging in verbal aggression were also examined. Purposive sampling procedures produced a select sample of elite male athletes known for their aggressive approach to playing Australian football. Qualitative methods and deductive analysis procedures, informed by J.H. Kerr’s categories of sport aggression, were used to interpret the interview data. Meaningful insights into verbal aggression in the AFL were obtained. Based on the underlying motivation, interview transcript descriptions of incidents were identified as examples of power, thrill, and anger verbal aggression.

“We missed the psychological support”: A case study about the preparation of the Brazilian bronze medal kata team for the 2019 Pan American Games

“…The present study assessed three athletes. A previous case study in sport science can vary from one athlete ( Hare et al, 2008 ) to a specific group of athletes ( Kerr and Grange, 2009 ) showing important findings. Besides the limitations, to our knowledge, this is the first study describing the preparation process of a medal kata team for a major competition.…”

Mixed Methods in Analysis of Aggressiveness and Attractiveness: Understanding PE Class Social Networks with Content Analysis

“…From the qualitative perspective, Daly et al [35] had participants provide verbally aggressive messages directed to them by their siblings, adopting a content analysis approach [38] used open semi-structured interviews to examine verbally aggressive communication between coaches and athletes. Interviews were also used by [17] to examine students' and teachers' perception about verbal aggressiveness and argumentativeness, while [39] used case study to examine interpersonal communication and verbal aggressiveness among footballers.…”

“…Finally, social attractiveness is perceived as companionship and was mentioned by few students (5%). For example: 'entice you to be in their company' (39).…”

“…The responses indicated that the following are important forms of verbal aggressiveness for students: 'Swearing' (45%), 'Derogatory comments' (15%), 'Humiliation' (11%), 'Hurting comments' (8%), able 'Irony' (3%) and 'Threat' (3%). For example: 'Putting pressure on someone with swearing or deriding comments' (31) or 'Ridiculing, being unfair and humiliating others with your words' (39). Of concern, 4.5% of respondents provided comments suggesting the non-verbal expressions that may accompany verbal aggressiveness as verbal aggressiveness itself.…”