Banter is in the eye of the beholder: a pragmatist, grounded theory approach to conceptualising and navigating banter and bullying in male youth community football

<p dir="ltr">While safeguarding research in sport has grown, the boundary between banter and bullying remains poorly conceptualised, particularly in grassroots football. Despite growing media and policy attention, the nuanced and socially constructed nature of these behaviours in male youth community football (MYCF) is yet to be adequately addressed. Current literature often fails to distinguish the relational dynamics that define harmful versus acceptable behaviours, with limited focus on participant voice or naturalistic evidence. This study aimed to reconceptualise how banter and bullying are understood, navigated, and experienced in MYCF, while also identifying their psychosocial outcomes and practical implications. To achieve this, the research employed a Pragmatist Grounded Theory (PGT) methodology guided by Dewey’s five-phase inquiry model. Longitudinal fieldwork was conducted across three football clubs, involving 176 hours of overt observations, 33 semi-structured interviews, and iterative member reflections with players, coaches, and welfare officers. The study adopted a flexible, context-sensitive framework, which prioritised practical consequences, co-construction of meaning, and abductive theory development. Findings revealed three distinct yet interrelated conceptualisations: banter as an inclusive, humour-based practice rooted in social bonds; bullying as persistent, boundary-violating behaviour with emotional and relational harm; and bad banter as an ambiguous, relationally dependent practice that straddles humour and harm. These concepts emerged through a participant-informed, abductive process, capturing the complexities of humour, power, and social belonging in MYCF. To address these complexities, the RISE Framework was co-developed with participants, comprising three core principles, Reflective Learning, Inter-relational Literacy, and Socio-cultural Sensitivity and Engagement. These principles, operationalised through the TAP strategy (Think, Act, Prevent), offer coaches, welfare officers, and players a flexible yet structured approach to navigating boundaries and fostering inclusive, reflective team cultures. Overall, this thesis contributes to sport psychology, sociology and safeguarding literature by offering an innovative methodological and theoretical approach to understanding complex social behaviours in MYCF. It advances knowledge on how harm is socially negotiated in football, supports stakeholder-led education strategies, and positions PGT as a valuable methodology for applied sport research. The study offers key recommendations for stakeholders, practitioners and organisations aiming to create safer, more inclusive environments in grassroots sport.</p>