Social Research with the Community Street Soccer Program Dr Emma Sherry Centre for Sport and Social Impact

Research Partnership Involved with TBI Australia since 2006 Approached TBI with research idea after reading an article on the Street Socceroos success in Edinburgh Most successful research partnerships evolve through networks and relationships Ideas for research can flow from the academic or the organisation – reciprocal benefits (and costs)

Research Background Sociology of sport Current research interests include: –Social capital –Sport for development –Sport and community engagement –Sport and women –Sport media analysis

We dont really know … Basic patterns of participation Details about both the participants and non-participants Why do people participate, or not? What broader social, economic and political processes are at work? How can sport be used as a tool for social engagement and social capital?

Case Study - CSSP The Big Issue Community Street Soccer Program research –To evaluate program outcomes Participants (2006, 2008, 2009) HWC spectators and volunteers (2008/09) Coaches and workers (2009) –To provide direction to TBI in programming –To provide evidence to funding bodies –To provide material for promotion and PR

Research questions Who are the participants? What are the benefits of participation? What are the social outcomes from participation?

Project details Pilot project with 2006 Homeless World Cup team – Street Socceroos Qualitative research project undertaken in 2008 and 2009 across Australia with CSSP participants/coaches/workers Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup –Spectators and volunteers Port Phillip Prison

Research participants Over 200 participants interviewed –Male and female –Aged 16 to 60 plus –Aboriginal, Australian and international –Variety of disadvantage (homeless, mental illness, intellectual disability, substance abuse, long-term unemployed, prison) 14 locations around Australia

What did we find? Snapshot of participant demographics Participant experience Social outcomes Potential benefits

Participant Experience Soccer as the sport of choice –Popular –Previous experience –Cross-cultural –CSSP = safe and supportive environment

Participant Experience Participant motivation –Routine provides a sense of purpose and stability –Encouraged motivation for other tasks –Alleviates boredom and provides diversion –Increases in fitness and health –Meeting new people and friendships –Relief from mental illness symptoms

Participant Experience Participant outcomes –Access to children –Training and education –Improved mental health –Improved housing –Securing employment –Participation in other sport and recreation activities

Social Outcomes Interpersonal relationships (social capital) Social interaction Sense of responsibility Refugee participation Self-esteem Social role-modeling Positive support network or peer group

Potential Benefits Reduced risky behaviours –Alcohol –Drugs –Smoking Physical health –Fitness –Diet Mental health

Publication Opportunities The Big Issue –Results from research have been used in reports to stakeholders and funding bodies –Potential to provide the basis of an editorial or article Research Reports –Distributed to program and stakeholders –Used for ongoing evaluation of HWC (surveys used in Milan and Brazil) Academic Journals –Sociology –Crime –Media –Sport-specific –Health