A Qualitative Analysis of the Intersectional Socialization of NCAA Division I Student-Athletes Across Diverse Identities

This research explores the socialization of NCAA Division I student-athletes through case study research methods to understand the influence of collegiate sport on interactions across intersectional identities. Grounded in academic theories relation to student-athlete socialization and intersectionality, this study addresses the following overarching question: What is the influence of athletic participation on the socialization of student-athletes? Interviews lasting 30-45 minutes were conducted with student-athletes (n=21) and athletic staff (n=4) associated with an NCAA Division I football program at a predominantly White institution (PWI) in the southern United States. Results suggested that the socialization of student athletes is complicated by their diverse, intersectional identities and oftentimes requires them to fall into perceived situational identities depending on the social setting.

Transition Experiences of Former Collegiate Women’s Soccer Athletes

Athlete transition from American collegiate sport participation, to non-sport careers or professional sport, has been a topic of contemporary sport science research but it is still not well understood, especially in female athlete populations. Informed by extant transition theory, the current study purpose was to describe the transition experiences of former women’s collegiate soccer athletes, including both positive and negative contributing factors. Using a deductive conceptual content analysis, results showcase both positive (i.e., social support, career goals, recreational sport play) and negative (i.e., lack of a team/support, lack of soccer/competition, lack of direction) contributors to the post-collegiate sport transition for female soccer athletes sampled. The importance of athletic identity and potential transition resources were identified. Specifically, participants endorsed career guidance, physical activity/exercise, mentorship programming, and mental health resources as potentially helpful to future athletes. Study findings expanded upon relevant transition theory and former female athlete research. Our study results may inform future research and program development efforts aimed at former female collegiate athletes from soccer and other sports.

Collegiate Sport Club Service Delivery: Moving Between Motivations and Constraints to Beneficial Outcomes

Overwhelming evidence supports that collegiate recreation, as a sport service, achieves a variety of both university and individual benefits. However, the intricacies of how individuals take up a sporting activity to actualize individual and collective outcomes is unclear. The purpose of this project was to develop a holistic understanding of the sport participant experience from motivations to join, constraints faced and negotiated, and outcomes attained through American collegiate recreational sport clubs. Interviews were conducted with 20 sport club athletes using a semi-structured interview guide developed from previous work on sport participation, motivations, constraints, and related outcomes. Data were coded and analyzed using a constructivist grounded theory approach. The findings revealed participants were attracted to a club as they sought out specific benefits, but university and club policies, along with leadership turnover, created constraints to their participation. Constraints evolved from individual challenges (e.g., intimidation, time conflicts, communication, lack of knowledge) to challenges associated with the clubs (e.g., skill development, leadership turnover). Through successfully negotiating these constraints using both individual and club resources students then acquired sought after benefits (e.g., socialization, physical activity), as well as benefits realized through the experience (e.g., professional skills, student development). By understanding participant experiences, managers can better design programs to recruit and retain athletes. In particular, by identifying the needs and challenges faced by participants, organizers can create opportunities to meet those needs and overcome challenges, including by providing social events or mentorship programs. Additionally, the benefits realized by participants can be used by club officers and campus recreation managers to justify continued investment in sport clubs. Overall, the study provides a holistic understanding of how motivations and constraints interact and ultimately lead to beneficial outcomes.

Pro-Environmental Sustainability and Political Affiliation: An Examination of USA College Sport Sustainability Efforts

Political ideology is one of the most powerful predictors of perceptions about environmental sustainability and related behaviors. The purpose of this study was to investigate how sport fans’ sustainability-specific values, perceptions, and norms related to awareness, engagement, and influence of USA collegiate sport sustainability efforts based on political affiliation, accounting for age and gender. Data were collected using an online survey distributed to season ticket holders after the 2019 college football season that featured three sponsored sustainability initiatives at each home game. Multivariate analysis of variance and chi-square difference tests found that self-identified Democrats reported significantly higher pro-environmental values and norms, but sustainability program engagement, sponsored initiatives awareness, and influence of initiatives on behavior were politically neutral. Path analysis found that ascription of responsibility was a significant predictor of sustainability-related engagement and behaviors for both Independents and Republicans. The results and discussion sections highlight how academics and practitioners can account for political affiliation when creating campaign messaging for environmental initiatives.

Initiation and Introduction Into Sport Participation: New Member Experiences With Collegiate Sport Clubs

Participants new to a sporting activity develop initial motivations while being confronted with a variety of constraints that must be successfully negotiated in order to participate. Further, motivations change over time, as do constraints, but there has been little examination of these concepts with regard to new participants. As such, this study examined why new collegiate club sport members were motivated to join a sport club and what constraints they face. Through semistructured interviews ( N = 11) new sport club members reported being motivated by a variety of reasons, while social support acted as a strong facilitator to continued involvement.

COVID-19 and its impact on players’ mental health

In the United States, collegiate sport is intimately tied to American Higher Education. In other words, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes are first and foremost students, and the NCAA governance is interwoven with higher education governance. While the structure of typical student life may evolve over time, and while student-athletes, like other students who are pursuing passions beyond the traditional classroom and invest intensely in the development of their unique skills, being a student is and will continue to be an essential function of being a student-athlete.

Collegiate Sport Club Athletes’ Psychological Well-Being and Perceptions of Their Team Climate

The purpose of this study was to consider how the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) Triple-Impact Competitor (TIC) workshop could be used to help create a positive climate for recreational sport club participants, and to examine how perceptions of a positive team climate related to indices of psychological well-being among sport club athletes. At the beginning of their season, sport club leaders completed the PCA TIC workshop. Following the conclusion of the spring season, we invited all sport club participants ( N = 109) to complete a survey that examined the motivational climate on their teams, as well as their hope, happiness, and self-kindness. Athletes’ perceptions of a CTI climate were significantly and positively related to their hope, happiness, and self-kindness. Results suggest that the PCA TIC training is an inexpensive strategy that may foster a positive environment within university sport club teams and may assist programs in promoting indices of psychological well-being among club sport athletes.