Athletes as “Sites of Normative Intersectionality”: Critically Exploring the Ontology of Influence in Sport Coaching

Social structure remains an equivocal term in (sport) sociology. Our understandings of its constitution and role causally influencing behavior are arguably underdeveloped. Using a critical realist approach, this paper examined how structural entities reflexive agency combined to influence elite youth cricket context (e.g., athletes, coaches). A methodological bricolage was used generate data Elder-Vass’s theorizing provided the principal heuristic device. The analysis illustrated coaches acted on behalf norm circles their attempts shape dispositions athletes. In turn, athletes engaged process dialectical iteration between deliberation (intersectional) dispositions, which influenced social action organizational context. This study holds significance for researchers practitioners concerned with influence.