Professionella ishockeyspelares arbetsmiljö : En kvalitativ studie om ishockeyspelares upplevelse av ishockey på elitnivå

The purpose of this study was to describe and understand professional ice hockey players’ own experiences regarding opportunities and challenges related to culture and work environment from an organizational and leadership perspective. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with professional ice hockey players competing at the two highest levels in Swedish ice hockey. The study is based on a qualitative method where a thematic analysis was used to process data from nine interviews. The results were analyzed through a neo- institutional theory. The organizations were described as similar to each other, which created security for the players, but this similarity may impact the development of the sport. The working environment is seen as favorable but can be improved by promoting players mental health. The respondents believed that the culture in ice hockey fosters a positive environment where players’ learn to take responsibility which contributes to their personal development. The results indicated that the age hierarchy contributes to strengthening the culture in ice hockey. The respondents are also aware of the financial aspect of ice hockey and understand that their contracts are affected by their performance on the ice. However, the feeling of being replaceable createsconcerns. The conclusion of the study is that ice hockey is not a job that suits everyone due to the pressure involved. Additionally, the organizational culture is characterized by strong values and norms, which means that ice hockey is difficult to change.