Narrative analysis and sport and exercise psychology: Understanding lives in diverse ways

ObjectivesThis article seeks to expand our understanding on narrative and the analysis of stories within the domain of sport and exercise psychology. Its intention is to describe, and not finalise or prescribe, what narrative analysis can be by illuminating a range of different ways in which sport and exercise psychologists might make sense of stories.ResultsPainting with broad strokes, some reasons as to why narrative analysis might be relevant for sport and exercise psychologists is first considered and then a description of narrative analysis is offered. Next, in order to better understand what narrative analysis can mean an original typology of different ways in which stories can be analysed is introduced. Illuminated by the typology are two contrasting standpoints toward narrative analysis—story analyst and storyteller—and three specific methods—structural, performative, and ethnodramatic creative analytic practices—that each standpoint might use to analyse the whats and hows of storytelling.ConclusionThe article closes by suggesting that sport and exercise psychologists might consider using a variety of analyses in order to assist them to understand the complexities of people's lives in diverse ways.