Intercultural Communication & Professional Athletes: A Qualitative Analysis On The Acculturation Experience Of North American Women Competing Internationally At The Professional Indoor Volleyball Level

Abstract

Past research in intercultural communication and the acculturation process focuses little on the experiences of professional athletes. To increase scholarship in intercultural communication, this study explored how women playing indoor volleyball professionally experienced the acculturation process within international leagues, as well as how that process impacted their perception of their performance, adding another dimension and perspective to existing literature. This exploration used phenomenological methodology to find major themes. In this study, seven professional indoor volleyball players from the United States and Canada, competing and living in Europe at the time, were interviewed. Participants were selected on whether or not they had signed a professional athletic contract overseas in women's indoor volleyball. The analysis produced four themes of what athletes experienced during the acculturation process: 1) out of place; 2) relationships; 3) expectations; 4) foreigners vs. locals and one theme of how that process affected their perceived performance: 5) initial adjustment, which included adjusting to differences in coaching style and level of league. The overall acculturation experience of the athletes was challenging but rewarding. The first theme out of place described how the majority of athletes experienced the feelings of discomfort, confusion and awkwardness when interacting with the host culture. The second theme relationships describes the impact of relationships on the athlete, how athletes interact with their support system from home and with relationships in the host culture. The third theme expectations highlights the standards of performance the professional team’s coach and managers have for the seven professional athletes interviewed. The fourth theme foreigners versus locals demonstrates the division of athletes that occurs on each participants professional team. The foreigners consist of any team members not from the host country and the locals are team members from the host country. The final theme, initial adjustment, which consisted of differences in coaching style and level of league, showed factors that contributed to a change in perceived performance.