Exploring lived experiences of music listening among rugby players : a hermeneutic phenomenology

Abstract

This study is a hermeneutic-phenomenological investigation with the aim of understanding the meanings that the NWU-PUK Rugby Institute players attributed to their lived experience of listening to music before a game. In answering this central research question, two sub-questions were also explored to find out what the rugby players experienced while listening to music before a game and how they experienced listening to music in terms of the context, situation and conditions. Ten NWU-PUK Rugby Institute players participated, eight of whom played in the same team, and two who played in different teams. Reflective essays were collected with follow-up semi-structured interviews with the chosen participants. Using ATLAS.ti 7, the data were analysed. Codes were conceptualised into categories and themes, links were made and patterns were identified. The results revealed four broad themes: 1) Nothing can distract me; 2) Activate and deactivate; 3) Affect regulation and 4) Well-being. These themes formed the basis of what the participants experienced while listening to music, with all four themes resulting in preparation for a rugby game.