Protection of minors in football: Do football’s regulatory frameworks serve the best interest of young players?

Application details:
Reference number: SSEHS/SY
Start date of studentship: 1 October 2019
Closing date of advert: 14 June 2019
Interview date: w/c 1 July 2019


Supervisors:
Primary supervisor: Dr Serhat Yilmaz
Secondary supervisor: Dr Carolynne Mason

Loughborough University is a top-ten rated university in England for research intensity (REF2014). In choosing Loughborough for your research, you’ll work alongside academics who are leaders in their field. You will benefit from comprehensive support and guidance from our Doctoral College, including tailored careers advice, to help you succeed in your research and future career.
Find out more: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/supporting-you/research/

The School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences has been ranked 1st in the world for Sport-related Subjects (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017, 2018 and 2019).
Full Project Detail:
This fully funded PhD offers a unique opportunity to investigate young football player’s perspective and experiences of regulatory frameworks governing their movement and representation within the football industry. You will work with a supportive supervisory team.

This project will investigate whether regulatory measures, in particular related to movement and representation, that aim to protect young players within football actually serve their best interest as outlined in the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Despite these measures being implemented by football governing bodies to protect minors, there is limited research in the field considering the impact of these rules on young players and their families. Therefore, the projects aims to examine young players’ perspectives and experiences in football. This PhD will utilise a qualitative research design and adopt participatory methods, such as focus groups and interviews, to access the voices of players as well as the staff of football clubs and the families. The insight will be utilised to critically analyse the regulatory measures and potential ways to ensure that the regulations serve the best interests of young players.

Find out more:
https://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/student-support/
https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/ssehs/
Entry requirements:
Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in sport management, social sciences of sport or similar.

A relevant Master’s degree and/or experience in one or more of the following will be an advantage: Sports business, policy, governance, and administration. The understanding of football business and/or child rights and knowledge and experience of qualitative research methods will also be an advantage.

Contact details:
Name: Dr Serhat Yilmaz
Email address: [Email Address Removed]
Telephone number: +44 (0)1509 228163
How to apply:
All applications should be made online at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/apply/research/. Under programme name, select “School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences”.

Please quote reference number: SSEHS/SY