Place, participants and Practitioner

Nadima Skeff

Writing about your study context (2-3 paragraphs)

The soccer academy FC Boston is located in various soccer fields among Massachusetts area. On Tuesdays, the players from age 12-18 are requested to drive to Taunton where the practice is placed at Forekicks. Forekicks is a huge company that owns several turf fields and indoor fields in the area. All the locations look the same. Taunton facility though has probably the biggest parking lot of all of them.

FC Boston players usually train on field 14. There are about 16 fields in the facility and all of them are in great shape. After stepping out of the car and walking into the fields, there is a huge sign asking the visitors not to eat or chew gum in the turf. There are no houses around this facilities which makes the drive a little bit random. I honestly would never imagine there would be a field out there in the middle nowhere.

There are kids everywhere wearing different uniforms. This is nobody’s house. Several other soccer academy trains in the same location which makes training sessions sometimes an awkward situation for coaches, parents, and players. It always amazes me the amount of black plastic gets inside my shoes from the turf. However, I must say it is a nice facility. Despite the usual cold from New England, Tuesdays are very pleasant nights.

Describing the participants (2-3 paragraphs)

In my team I have 17 players. Players age vary between 11-13 years old. Unfortunately, soccer world in New England is surrounded mainly by privileged white people. However, I am very lucky to have some international, players on my team. I have kids who their parents are from Brazil, Turkey, Pakistan, England, Albania, Korea, and Puerto Rico. I honestly love the diversity because it brings a lot of the parents overseas experience to the table.

My team has only girls, and they are extremely happy and funny. They are usually in a great mood and I have never seemed them fighting or any other type of drama. Obviously, for being in a sports environment, all the girls are using sports outfits inside and outside of the field. Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, among other sports brands, girls have all type of equipment when they come to soccer practices.

Before I get to the field I can already see my kids juggling on their own. On my way to the field I try to say hi to as many parents I can, but at the same time without letting them take advantage of that time to talk or complain. My focus is always the kids, and the kids know that. Once I step in the field, usually all 17 players are there ready to work and improve. I do not need to say much, the first 30 minutes of practice is always similar, consequently, just my look is enough to get everybody working.

Describing your role as the teacher (2-3 paragraphs)

I am truly aware that I need to protect the identity of the players from my team and the club. I am also aware that in the research paper you cannot use the name of the club, instead, we need to rename such as “Local club”. Whatever method I decide to use, the information will be given through an anonymous or protective personal information. If there is a need to take pictures of videos, I will provide the adequate waiver and proper information to give to the kids and the parents.

I would not be in charge of separating groups or any type of method that my relationship can influence the result. Everything would be a blind pick or blind organized. A third person, one who has no contact with my participants, would be in charge once organizing groups and etc.

I honestly still not sure what descriptive and/or focused observation I will be using to form my research question. However, I know I have a tremendous interest to make my practices and interactions as productive and pleasant as possible. I have thought about the perception of practice and or/games quality from my perception comparing to player’s perceptions, or even parents perceptions. I am still not sure what I would like to do.