journal article
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Role conflict in the director of netball role within a netball super league franchise
Francis-Bayman, Sara; Whitehead, Amy E.
2024 Managing Sport and Leisure
doi: 10.1080/23750472.2024.2420780
Purpose To investigate how elite netball in the UK is interpreting the Director of Netball Role and the levels of role conflict experienced by those role-holders. Design Six directors of netball took part in a semi-structured interview. Thematic analysis of the interviews followed an inductive and then deductive approach, to interpret the complex, intertwined themes present. Findings Most participants were in dual, head coach and director of netball, roles. Key responsibilities were heterogenous, regardless of individuals being single or dual role holders. Role overload, intra role, and inter role conflict, and threats to the role were also evident and presented. Practical Implications Separating the head coach and sporting director roles will minimise levels of role conflict and the associated negative consequences. A clear organisational strategy is essential to providing direction and clarity to staff, which would alleviate role conflict in most areas identified. Research Contribution Netball provides a unique context within the sporting director field of research, and an opportunity for further research in less resourced sports adopting dual role sporting directors. Originality This study provides an original contribution to the literature by investigating role conflict within a sporting director population, an area that has previously received no attention.