The revised model for initial and continued involvement in fantasy football

Abstract

Fantasy football (FF) is an online game that plays an increasingly central role in fan engagement with the sport. Wilkins et al.’s [45] Model for Initial and Continued Involvement in Fantasy Football (MICIFF) proposed several possible motivations for FF participation. The present study examined the validity of this model whilst also exploring potential age-related differences in perspectives. Integrative content analysis of qualitative responses from 698 FF players revealed support (i.e., >8% coverage) for 12 of the 15 factors in the model, with ‘mimics real football’ (45.7 % coverage) and ‘maintaining friendships’ (44.8 %) most frequently cited. No evidence was found for two factors, whilst amendments were made to another factor. Two new factors emerged from the analysis. Chi-square tests identified significant differences between younger and older adults in five factors. These changes are reflected in a revised MICIFF. The findings enhance our understanding of why individuals participate in FF and have implications for both players and stakeholders in the game.