Disciplinary power and coaching in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics
A Foucauldian analysis of the coach-gymnast relationship
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22456/1982-8918.141118Keywords:
Women's Artistic Gymnastics, Foucault, Sports Coaching, Sociology of SportAbstract
Based on Foucault's theoretical framework, the aim of this study was to analyze the coach-gymnast relationship from both gymnasts’ and coaches’ perspective, in a Women's Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) training center. The data were produced through participant observation and semi-structured interviews with 4 coaches and 15 gymnasts. Through Reflective Thematic Analysis, we found three themes: (1) Productivity and control, in which we demonstrated how coaches use disciplinary techniques in the gym; (2) The "counter-productivity" of disciplinary power, in which we discussed how the authoritarian actions of coaches could harm the teaching-learning process; (3) Where there is power there is resistance? The gymnasts' perspective, in which we explore the gymnasts' reactions to the coaches' actions. In sum, the three themes indicate that if disciplinary techniques are justified because they produce sporting results, sometimes they are pedagogically "counterproductive". Thus, coaches should rethink their coaching practices based on these disciplinary techniques.
Downloads
References
ARKAEV, Leonid; SUCHILIN, Nicolai. Gymnastics: how to create champions. Oxford: Meyer and Meyer Sport, 2004.
BARKER-RUCHTI, Natalie. Women’s artistic gymnastics: an (auto)ethnographic journey. Basel: Gesowip, 2011.
BARKER-RUCHTI, Natalie; TINNING, Richard. Foucault in leotards: Corporal discipline and coaching practice in women’s artistic gymnastics. Sociology of Sport Journal, v. 27, n. 3, p. 229-250, 2010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.27.3.229
BARKER-RUCHTI, Natalie; VAREA, Valeria. Surviving child sexual abuse in women’s artistic gymnastics: “It’s beautiful, because had I stayed in the past, I wouldn’t have involved as a person”. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, v. 59, n. 5, p. 660-678, 2004. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/10126902231218180
BARRON, David. Aimee Boorman redefines coaching relationship with Simone Biles. Houston Chronicle. 2016. Disponível em: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/olympics/article/Aimee-Boorman-redefines-coaching-relationship-8382626.php. Acesso em: 25 jan. 2021.
BAXTER, Pamela; JACK, Susan. Qualitative case-study methodology: study design and implementation for novice researchers. The Qualitative Report, v. 13, n. 4, p. 544-559, 2008. DOI: https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2008.1573
BRAUN, Victoria; CLARKE, Victoria. One size fits all? What counts as quality practice in (reflexive) thematic analysis? Qualitative Research in Psychology, v. 18, n. 3, p. 328-352, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2020.1769238
BRAUN, Victoria; CLARKE, Victoria. Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, v. 11, n. 4, p. 589–597, 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1628806
BRAUN, Victoria; CLARKE, Victoria. Successful qualitative research: a practical guide for beginners. London: Sage, 2013.
BRAUN, Victoria; CLARKE, Victoria. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, v. 3, n. 2, p. 77–101, 2006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
BRAUN, Victoria; CLARKE, Victoria; WEATE, Paul. Using thematic analysis in sport and exercise research. In: SMITH, Brett; SPARKES, Andrew C. (ed). Routledge handbook of qualitative research in sport and exercise. London: Rotledge, 2016. p. 191-205.
BRIDEL, Willian; RAIL, Genevieve. Sport, sexuality, and the production of (resistance) bodies: de-/re-constructing the meanings of gays marathon corporeality. Sociology of Sport, v. 24, n. 2, p. 127-144, 2007. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.24.2.127
CARLESS, David; DOUGLAS, Kitrina. Living, resisting, and playing the part of athlete: narrative tensions in elite sport. Psychology of Sport & Exercise, v. 14, n. 5, p. 701–708, 2013. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2013.05.003
CASSIDY, Tania; JONES, Robin; POTRAC, Paul. Understanding sports coaching: the social, cultural and pedagogical foundations of coaching practice. London: Routledge, 2004.
CAVALLERIO, Francesca; WADEY, Ross; WAGSTAFF, Christopher. Impacting and being impacted by overuse injuries: an ethnodrama of parents’ experiences. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, v. 14, n. 1, p. 19-36, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2021.1885480
COSTA, Vítor Ricci et al. Living within and outside a disciplinary bubble: a Focauldian analysis of Brazilian former gymnasts experiences in boarding school. Sport, Education and Society, v. 29, n. 3, p. 253-266, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2022.2142544
CUSHION, Chris. Modelling the complexity of coaching process. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, v. 2, n. 4, p. 395-401, 2007. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1260/174795407783359650
CUSHION, Chris; ARMOUR, Kathleen; JONES, Robin. Locating the coaching process in practice: models ‘for’ and ‘of’ coaching. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, v. 11, n. 1, p. 83-99, 2006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17408980500466995
DENISON, Jim. Social theory for coaches: a Foucauldian reading of one athlete’s poor performance. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, v. 2, n. 4, p. 369–383, 2007. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1260/174795407783359777
DENISON, Jim; MILLS, Joseph P.; KONOVAL, Timothy. Sports’ disciplinary legacy and the challenge of ‘coaching differently’. Sport, Education and Society, v. 22, n. 6, p. 772-783, 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2015.1061986
FLYVBJERG, Bent. Five misunderstandings about case-study research. Qualitative inquiry, v. 12, n. 2, p. 219-245, 2006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/107780040528436
FOUCAULT, Michel. A história da sexualidade 1: a vontade de saber. Rio de Janeiro: Graal, 1999.
FOUCAULT, Michel. A história da sexualidade 2: o uso dos prazeres. Rio de Janeiro: Graal, 2006.
FOUCAULT, Michel. A história da sexualidade 3: o cuidado de si. Rio de Janeiro: Graal, 2007.
FOUCAULT, Michel. A ordem do discurso: aula Inaugural no Collège de France, pronunciada em 2 de dezembro de 1970. 19. ed. São Paulo: Loyola, 2009.
FOUCAULT, Michel. Technologies of the self. In: FOUCAULT, Michel; RABINOW, Paul (ed.). Ethics: subjectivity and truth. London: Penguin Books, 2000. (Essential works of Foucault 1954-1984, v. 1).
FOUCAULT, Michel. Vigiar e punir: nascimento da prisão. Petrópolis: Vozes, 1987.
HANOLD, Maylon. Beyond the marathon: (de)construction of female ultrarunning bodies. Sociology of Sport, v. 27, n. 2, p. 160-177, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.27.2.160
JACOBS, Froukje; SMITS, Frank; KNOPPERS, Anne. “You don’t realize what you see!”: the institutional context of emotional abuse in elite youth sport. Sport in Society, v. 20, n. 1, p. 126-143, 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2015.1124567
JOHNS, David; JOHNS, Jennifer. Surveillance, subjectivism, and technologies of power. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, v. 35, n. 2, p. 219-234, 2000. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/101269000035002006
JONES, Adam; AITCHISON, Cara. Triathlon as a space for women’s technologies of the self. In: AITCHISON, Cara (ed.). Sport and gender identities: masculinities, femininities and sexualities. Oxon, England: Routledge, 2007
JONES, Luke; DENISON, Jim. Challenge and relief: a Foucauldian disciplinary analysis of retirement from professional association football in the United Kingdom. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, v. 52, n. 8, p. 924-939, 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1012690215625348
JONES, Robyn. Coaching as caring (the smiling gallery): accessing hidden knowledge. Physical Education and Sports Pedagogy, v. 14, n. 4, p. 377-390, 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17408980801976551
JONES, Robyn; ARMOUR, Kathleen POTRAC, Paul. Understanding the coaching process: a framework for social analysis. Quest, v. 54, n. 1, p. 34-48, 2002. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2002.10491765
JONES, Robyn; GLINTMEYER, Milan; MCKENZIE, Anton. Slim bodies, eating disorders and the coach-athlete relationship: a tale of identity creation and disruption. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, v. 40, n. 30, p. 377-389, 2005. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1012690205060231
JOWETT, Sophia. Coaching effectiveness: the coach-athlete relationship at its heart. Current Opinion in Psychology, v. 16, p. 154–158, 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.05.006
KERR, Roslyn et al. Coming of age: coaches transforming the pixie-style of coaching in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics. Sports Coaching Review, v. 8, n. 1, p. 7-24, 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21640629.2017.1391488
KUHLIN, Fanny; STEWART, Carly; BARKER-RUCHTI, Natalie. Long-term impact of the coach-athlete relationship on development, health, and wellbeing: stories from a figure skater. Sports Coaching Review, v. 9, n. 2, p. 208-230, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21640629.2019.1620016
MARKULA, Pirko; PRINGLE, Richard. Foucault, sport, and exercise: power, knowledge and transforming the self. Abington: Routledge, 2006.
OLIVEIRA, Maurício Santos. A microcultura de um ginásio de treinamento de Ginástica Artística de Alto Rendimento. 2014. 183 f. Tese (Doutorado em Pedagogia do Movimento Humano) – Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 2014. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11606/T.39.2014.tde-11072014-104153
PINHEIRO, Maria Claudia et al. Gymnastics and child abuse: an analysis of former international Portuguese female artistic gymnasts. Sport, Education and Society, v. 19, n. 4, p. 435-480, 2014. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2012.679730
PURDY, Laura; JONES, Robyn; CASSIDY, Tania. Negotiation and capital: athletes’ use of power in an elite men’s rowing program. Sport, Education and Society, v. 14, n. 3, p. 321-338, 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13573320903037796
SCHIAVON, Laurita. M. Ginástica artística feminina e história oral: a formação desportiva de ginastas brasileiras participantes de Jogos Olímpicos (1980-2004). 2009. 379 f. Tese (Doutorado em Educação Física) - Faculdade de Educação Física. Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47749/T/UNICAMP.2009.439200
SCHUTT, Russel. Investigating the social world: the process and practice of research. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2012.
SMITS, Froukje; JACOBS, Frank; KNOPPERS, Annelies. ‘Everything revolves around gymnastics’: athletes and parents make sense of elite youth sport. Sport in Society, v. 20, n. 1, p. 66-83, 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2015.1124564
SPARKES, Andrew; SMITH, Brett. Qualitative research methods in sport, exercise and health: from process to product. Abingdon: Routledge, 2014.
STEWART, Carly; BARKER-RUCHTI, Natalie. Unraveling gender and non-accidental violence in women’s artistic gymnastics: a critical interpretative synthesis. Quest, v. 76, n. 2, p. 169-189, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2023.2261581
STIRLING, Ashley; KERR, Gretchen. A. Abused athletes’ perceptions of the coach-athlete relationship. Sport in Society: cultures, commerce, media, politics, v. 12, n. 2, p. 227-239, 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17430430802591019
TYNAN, Ruby; MCEVILLY, Nollaig. ‘No pain, no gain’: former elite female gymnasts engagements with pain and injury discourses. Qualitative Research in Sport, v. 9, n. 4, p. 469-484, 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2017.1323778
YIN, Richard. Applications of case study research. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2012.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Movimento
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain the copyright to the manuscripts they submit and grant Movimento the right to publish the text in accordance with the open licensing policy adopted by the journal.
Movimento adopts the Creative Commons Atribuição 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) license and follows the Open Access model, which provides unrestricted online access, including free access, to all scholarly texts published by the journal.
When submitting a manuscript, authors must acknowledge that they are aware of the copyright licensing terms that will apply if the manuscript is accepted and published, as described below:
- Open access is a condition in which the copyright holder of a scholarly work grants third parties’ rights to use the work under an open license (Creative Commons Attribution, CC BY)
- Open access provides free and immediate access to the work, authorizing any user to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of articles; index them; pass them as data to software; or use them for any other lawful purpose.
Movimento encourages authors to self-archive accepted manuscripts by making them available on personal blogs, institutional repositories, academic social media platforms, and personal profiles, provided that the complete reference to the published version on the journal's website and/or the SciELO Collection page is included.
