Physical Contact in Women's Basketball: A First Interpretation

Abstract

This study investigated the phenomenon of physical contact, as experienced by female basketball players. Denzin's (1984) social phenomenological method was used and understanding of physical contact was reached through content analysis of in-depth, open ended interviews with members (N=14) of a women's university basketball team competing in Canada. The study unraveled the interrelationships, meanings and essential properties of the physical contact phenomenon. The present article focuses on the results of the deconstruction and reduction phases of the social phenomenological method used in the study. These results provide a new understanding of some of women athletes' crucial experiences in basketball. © 1990, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.