Supporting the role of soccer youth sector coaches: an experience at AC Milan

Sport organizations are crossed by deep changes and characterized by an increasing complexity. Furthermore there is an increasing tension among the overgrowing competitive wills and the delicate relationship adults-teens. These characteristics are more amplified and evident in the Youth Sectors, especially in the professional clubs. The coaches' central role (especially in youth sectors) is pointed out by the international literature (e.g. Cassidy et al,2006). Since 2007 a consulting intervention is carried out by our University for the AC Milan youth sector. The stakeholders' request concerned an intervention to improve the service quality. This paper is focused on one of the several activities we carried out: the support to coaches regarding psycho-social issues. The paper will focus on the field work carried out in 4 "Academy Team" in AC Milan Youth Sector. Using an ethnographic methodology 4 psychologists worked during a full season (2009/2010) with 4 different coaches and their teams.They collected more than 120 ethnographic observations of training sessions and games, with the aim of highlighting some psychological central topics about coach role such as: communication process with single athletes and whole group, team work with the rest of the staff, parents and managers relationship management. We are conducting the content-analysis (with the support of ATLAS.ti) on the produced material. Interesting outcomes are emerging at two different levels: about the coach-athletes relationships, and about the methodology used for the role support process.