NCAA Division I Coaches’ Perceptions and Preferred Use of Sport Psychology Services: A Qualitative Perspective

Although there appears to be greater acceptance and use of sport psychology (SP), fully integrating SP consultants and services into college athletic programs has yet to occur in most institutions. Decisions to initiate, continue, or terminate SP services are often made by coaches. Therefore, college coaches with access to services were interviewed to explore their beliefs and expectations about SP service use and how an SP consultant could work effectively with them and their athletes. Using consensual qualitative research methods, three domains in coaches’ perceptions of SP consultants were revealed: who they are, what they do, and how they do it. Findings illustrate the importance of being “on the same page” with coaches, developing self-reliant athletes, and making an impact while remaining in a supporting role.

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Is Authenticity and Integrity Possible for Sexual Minority Athletes? Lesbian Student-Athlete Experiences of U.S. NCAA Division I Sport

Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal ◽

10.1123/wspaj.2014-0055 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 60-69 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Jamie M. Fynes ◽

Leslee A. Fisher

Keyword(s):

Sport Psychology ◽

Ncaa Division I ◽

Student Athletes ◽

Female Athletes ◽

College Campuses ◽

Division I ◽

Consensual Qualitative Research ◽

Student Athlete ◽

Collegiate Sport ◽

Interview Guide

The purpose of this study was to explore the congruence of identity in 10 former U.S. NCAA Division I (DI) lesbian student-athletes using a semistructured personal identity interview guide (adapted from Fisher, 1993) and Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) (Hill, 2012; Hill, Knox, Thompson, Williams, Hess, & Ladany, 2005). Five domains, nineteen categories, and related core ideas were found in the transcribed interviews. The five domains were: (a) stereotypes and perceptions of female athletes; (b) stereotypes and perceptions of lesbians and lesbian athletes; (c) climate for LGBT athletes; (d) negotiating identities; and (e) recommendations for college campuses. The main goal of the current study was to determine whether lesbian athletes felt comfortable being who they are in the context of U.S. DI sport. Recommendations for how applied sport psychology consultants, coaches, and administrators, all of whom play an important role in athletes’ collegiate sport experience, could change the structure of U.S. universities to help lesbian student-athletes become more comfortable are given.

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U.S. NCAA Division I Female Student-Athletes’ Perceptions of an Empowerment and Social Responsibility Program

The Sport Psychologist ◽

10.1123/tsp.2014-0165 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 40-54

Author(s):

Alicia H. Malnati ◽

Leslee A. Fisher ◽

Rebecca A. Zakrajsek ◽

Leslie K. Larsen ◽

Matthew P. Bejar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Research ◽

Intercollegiate Athletics ◽

Ncaa Division I ◽

Student Athletes ◽

Female Student ◽

Psychological Empowerment ◽

College Campuses ◽

Division I ◽

Consensual Qualitative Research ◽

Social Empowerment

Because alcohol abuse and sexual violence are particularly prevalent on college campuses (Coker et al., 2011), empowering female student-athletes is a vital pursuit for intercollegiate athletics (Gill, 2008; Cattaneo & Chapman, 2010). Using consensual qualitative research (Hill et al., 1997, 2005), we interviewed eight Division I female student-athletes who participated in an empowerment program about their experiences. Five domains were revealed: (a) perception of psychological empowerment, (b) perception of social empowerment, (c) perception of physical empowerment, (d) perception of biggest “takeaways,” and (e) experience of program. Findings illustrated the importance of empowering female student-athletes to believe in themselves, to act upon those beliefs, and to build community around those beliefs.

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