Based on the concept that the social (institutional) structure created by sports organizations guides and shapes the character (psychological) structure of its players, the purpose of this study was to elucidate the characteristics associated with the institutional structure created by the Japan Football Association (JFA). In order to distinguish the influential forces associated with the institutional structure of the JFA, we analyzed JFA News bulletins published by the organization between 1978 and 2013. The following six sports-related components were subsequently identified: "Sports Ideology"; "Sports Rules"; "Sports Symbol"; "Sports Behavior Pattern"; "Sports Civilization"; and "Sports Organizations". Our results suggested that between 1978 and 2005, the "Sports Ideology" component of the institution appeared to emphasize the importance of a high level of performance, the "Sports Behavior Pattern" component sought to instruct players on how to acquire the skills necessary for better performance, and the "Sports Symbol" component stressed the status, including the recognition and worldwide praise, that could be attained by highly skilled players who become members of professional or national teams. Therefore, the JFA was shown to have adopted a subjective stance in promoting both an improvement in performance levels and the acquisition of more highly skilled players. At the same time, by emphasizing their own authority, the JFA enhanced the players' sense of belonging or urge to belong to the organization. However, from 2006, the year the JFA Academy was founded, both the "Sports Ideology" and the "Sports Behavior Pattern" components began to emphasize how playing football enables boys to become men and provides a meaningful way to make contributions to society. Therefore, this study suggests that the JFA has transformed from a sports organization emphasizing improvements in the skill and performance levels of Japanese football players into an organization that, in addition to the emphasis on skill and performance, is attempting to establish new social and cultural values.

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