Project, field of possibilities and networks in the football formation of young athletes and their families in Brazil

Abstract

The article analyzes how the engagement of families in a sociability network can create opportunities and strategies for their members to achieve individual goals in their life project at football career. With this regard, we use as a theoretical frame the notions of life project and field of possibilities to understand the process of those families in the training management that their children athletes need to do. The ethnographic study analyzed the trajectory of five families of athletes over two years. The results allow us to argue that the insertion in the social networks expands the field of possibilities in the construction of a career in football. It is concluded that the branching of these networks and the construction of bridges with central mediators in this field are fundamental for the strengthening of the football project of these athletes and their families.