Tag Archives: institutionalized means

This video is a trailer to the UK six part series that was aired on Sky1 channel in 2009. Ian Wright, soccer star, former Arsenal player and prominent TV host created a show. He himself, according to his interview for the show’s description on Sky 1 official website, spent 14 days in jail for driving without “tax or insurance”. During the show he was coaching young prisoners for the big final game. According to the same Sky 1 channel’s website, young prisoners had to go through a lot of training with strict discipline and those who didn’t work hard were excluded from the team. They were also participating in life coaching sessions, like anger management training, and were giving positive examples and encouragement to break out of criminal life cycle.  As show’s page claims: “As well as nurturing football talents, the series will also show how organisation, communication, trust and team work play a vital part in the rehabilitation and social integration of young offenders on their release.”

In the end of the show prison got funding for it’s own Football Academy. As for Ian Wright, he was palnning to attract government’s atention to the problem of young criminal’s rehabilitation and hoped to encourage creation of Football Academies in Juvenal prisons across the UK. How succesfull he was in that I don’t know. I will try to find out and will post it in comments to this post.

In Ian Wright’s model of rehabilitation through football we can see reflection of Merton’s theory of goals and institutionalized means of achievement.  Football Behind Bars prophecy popular concept that sport fosters discipline and improves one’s morals. It also works on giving young criminals new model for success- becoming successful athlete. Moreover, through Ian Wright’s personal example it shows institutionalized way for them to achieve goals of success and even wealth.