American football in Mexico: factors influencing success of teams within the National College Football Organization, Organizacion Nacional Estudiantil de Futbol Americano (ONEFA)

摘要

This study investigates the factors or determinants that influence success of teamswithin the Big 12 Conference of the National College Football Organization in Mexico.The findings of such a study were perceived to be useful to other football teams inMexico, enabling them to implement the strategies and practices of the teams consideredthe most successful.The participants in this study included head coaches and players of teams withinthe Big 12 Conference in Mexico. Two questionnaires containing open-ended questionswere addressed to coaches and players in telephone interviews. The data acquired wasfirst transcribed in its original language [Spanish], and then translated to English.Content analysis was used in the analysis of the data.The results indicated that several factors- themes, emerged from the interviews,and they were organized into the input-throughput-output model of organizationaleffectiveness (Chelladurai, 2005). The participants considered these factors to beinfluential for the success of football teams within the Big 12 Conference. Human resources represented the most determinant factor in the input model. The throughputmodel showed the procedures or strategies implemented by the teams to guarantee theattainment of goals. Finally, in the output model, winning the championship representedthe most important goal for coaches and players; however, only the head coachesmentioned other goals, such as having successful programs, having their playersgraduate, and so forth, as important in their football programs. The results identified thefactors perceived to influence success of football teams within the Big 12 Conference inMexico. These findings will be useful to coaches and players of other football teams inMexico and enable them to implement the strategies and procedures perceived to leadteams to success.