Business Commons^™

Collegiate Female Athlete Experiences With Name, Image, And Likeness, Hailey A. Harris, Natasha T. Brison

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

The purpose of this study is to examine experiences female collegiate athletes encountered with Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) legislation. Ten collegiate female athletes across multiple divisions and geographic regions were interviewed for this study. Participants discussed various facets of their experiences with NIL, such as team dynamics and personal branding. The results of this study suggest differences in 1) their institutional educational processes for NIL, 2) their attitudes towards NIL, 3) shifts (or lack thereof) in their team’s group cohesion and leadership, and 4) their experience with forming and managing their personal brand. This study adds to the current …

“Zero Preparation For Life After Sports”: Former College Athletes’ Use Of Tiktok To Express Transitioning Out Of Sport, Molly Harry, Sydney Hammit

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Every college athlete will transition out of competition and this transition is often tumultuous for athletes who have dedicated years to the sports they love. Despite these challenges, athletes are rarely given a platform to discuss their transition with peers experiencing a similar situation who can offer support. However, through social media, former college athletes are creating platforms to center their transition successes and struggles. Through the lens of Schlossberg’s Transition Theory (1981), this study used thematic analysis to examine transition experiences of former college athletes responding to a viral TikTok video. Comments (n = 869) demonstrated former athletes …

The “Other” Nil And Sportcrit: Narrative Identity And Liminality Of Black Gendered Scholar-Athletes, Joseph L. Herman Ii

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

The purpose of this conceptual manuscript is to advance a new integrated model: the Narrative Identity (NI), and Liminality Model (NILM). The NILM advances narrative as an intervention tool for Black gendered scholar-athletes (BGSAs) by integrating NI theory (Adler et al., 2017) with the Community Cultural Wealth (CCW) model (Yosso, 2005) for positive outcomes intra-intercollegiate career. The developmental characteristic of sense-making of one’s life via the life story model and life stage phases (McAdams, 1985, 2011) are paramount to BGSAs’ articulation and development during their liminal condition (Sutton, 2017) as athletes in their orientation to sport. More specifically, orienting the …

Decisions, Decisions: Analyzing College Choice Amongst Ncaa Division Ii Transfer And Non-Transfer Athletes, Eric G. Kramer

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Abstract

Many pundits and fans within college sport have exhausted an inordinate amount of time analyzing the impact of recruiting in intercollegiate athletics amidst recent regulatory changes within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The most recent changes to Division I transfer regulations have introduced a level of uncertainty about the future of college athletics. While these changes may garner significant attention for Division I revenue sport programs, recruiting plays a critical role in across all levels of competition (Nixon, et al., 2021). Yet, scant research has been conducted to determine which factors are most influential in an NCAA Division …

The Career Transitions Of High-Profile Student-Athletes: Identity, Role Engulfment, And Psychological Well-Being, Claire C. Zvosec, Nathan Baer, Maya Hughes, Brent Oja, Minjung Kim, Sean Dahlin, Steve M. Howell

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

The purpose of this study is to build upon previous literature on the stages of career preparation of college student-athletes by examining identity, role engulfment, and psychological well-being as it relates to preparation for ‘post-playing days’ life. More specifically, the authors endeavored to examine the relationship between role engulfment and psychological well-being and how it affects post-athletic career transitions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 former Division I college football student-athletes who were previously student-athletes at 14 different Division I institutions. Utilizing identity, role engulfment, and psychological well-being as conceptual frameworks, this study discusses the how and why behind the …

Perceived Effectiveness Of Study Skills Training For Division Iii College Athletes: A Pilot Program, Jill W. Lassiter, Amanda L. Campbell

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

College athletes experience high levels of stress and academics is one of the primary causes. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a study skills training workshop designed around the theory of Multiple Intelligences. The pilot-workshop was developed with minimal resources, tailored to college athletes, and focused on helping them adopt personally meaningful active study strategies. An inductive, naturalistic evaluation approach was used to analyze the qualitative responses of 55 athletes who participated in the workshop. Findings showed that those who adopted active study strategies experienced benefits in the areas of decreased stress, perceived effectiveness, perceived efficiency, greater …

“You Need To Allow Yourself To Grieve That Loss And That Identity.” College Athletes’ Transition To Life After College Sport.”, Clare Manthey, Jimmy Smith

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Only a small percentage of collegiate athletes compete at the professional level of sport after they graduate, leaving most athletes to transition out of a life involved in sport. Research reviewing life after competitive sport for college athletes and the consequences associated with such a transition is plentiful, however, additional research also argues that life transition research is necessary to maximize the understanding of such a phenomenon. A case study approach used Schlossberg’s Theory of Transition (2011) to research recently retired collegiate college athletes and their time transitioning away from competitive college sports. Several themes emerged from the qualitative results …

Utilization And Impact Of Career Services Among Collegiate Athletes, Evan A. Davis, Shea M. Brgoch, Leeann M. Lower-Hoppe, Makena Lynch, Duncan A. Johnston, Daniel Wray, Kristy Mccray, Megan Parietti

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Career readiness is a concern within the American educational system, particularly among student-athletes that must manage intense time commitments both on and off the field. Student services have emerged in higher education to support career preparation, but the utilization and impact of these services for collegiate athletes is largely unknown. The systems-theory framework (STF) of career development identifies a multitude of internal and external factors that influence individual career development. Guided by STF, the purpose of this study was to predict the factors that influence collegiate athletes' utilization of career services and resulting perceived career skills. An online questionnaire was …

Psychological Experiences During Previous High School Sport Participation Predict College Students’ Current Psychological Health, Jonathan D. Defreese, Amanda Visek, Nikki E. Barczak-Scarboro

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Adolescent sport participation has been positively associated with psychological health outcomes. Yet, further research is needed to explore how psychosocial health benefits from sport may be maximized or minimized based on one’s psychological experiences during previous sport participation. The present study examined associations among retrospective psychological experiences of high school sport participation and markers of current college students’ psychosocial health. American college students (N = 300) self-reported retrospective high school sport experiences (i.e., burnout, engagement, and stress) and current psychosocial health outcomes (i.e., social support, depressive symptoms, life satisfaction) via an online interface. Moderated multiple regression analyses showed high …

A Primer On The Income Tax Consequences Of The Ncaa’S Name, Image And Likeness (Nil) Earnings For College Athletes, Marena M. Messina, Frank M. Messina

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

NCAA domestic college athletes can now financially benefit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). The purpose of this article is to “educate” athletes on the new NIL rules in financial literacy. With new NIL income flowing to athletes, federal income tax consequences of these transactions must be addressed. This article results in a detailed introduction to the applicable federal tax rules regarding NIL income for athletes to stay in compliance with those laws. From understanding NIL income, to how the tax formula works, what tax forms apply, and what taxes may be due, this article provides a comprehensive toolkit …

"Do You Really See Us?":Black College Athlete Perceptions Of Inclusion At Di Historically White Institutions, Shannon Jolly, Jepkorir Rose Chepyator-Thomson

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

While recent sport research has highlighted benefits of racial diversity on teams and in the workplace, few studies have examined how demographic composition is perceived by college athletes. Fewer have investigated how racially marginalized athletes experience the phenomena. Thus, the current study explores the intersection of race, gender, and athletic identity in Black college athletes at DI Historically White Institutions (HWIs), perceptions of inclusion, and its influence on sense of belonging. Employing critical race theory, two focus groups and six semi-structured interviews that incorporated vignettes were conducted with six current Black athletes at DI HWIs in the Southeastern U.S. Findings …

College Athletes’ Views On Academics: A Qualitative Assessment Of Perceptions Of Academic Success, Amanda M. Brouwer, John Johanson, Thomas Carlson

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

The primary purpose of the current study was to give “voice” to college athletes regarding their views on academics. Given their perspectives, means of promoting their academic achievement were suggested. Research describing athletes’ experiences and the impact of socio-emotional stressors on academic success, especially for those not at a Division I school, is needed. Therefore, a qualitative study exploring the academic experiences of college athletes was conducted. Twelve focus groups of college athletes (N = 62) from six teams were held. Results revealed that college athletes are motivated to achieve by external factors and see grades as an external …

Is Same-Gender Mentorship Important For Division Iii Female College Athletes?: An Application Of The Mentor Role Theory, Nicholas Swim, Ehren R. Green, Mary A. Hums, Glenna G. Bower, Khirey B. Walker

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

In the last twenty years, opportunities for women in intercollegiate athletics have grown exponentially. Unfortunately, women still represent a small number of head coaches in intercollegiate athletics, creating a disparity in numbers between female college athletes and female head coaches. This disparity has led to an imbalance for female college athletes searching for female role models and mentors. This study investigated the mentoring experiences of NCAA Division III female college athletes based on their lived experiences with both male and female head coaches. Using Mentor Role Theory (MRT), a set of qualitative responses were collected and analyzed. The participants highlighted …

“It’S Just A Lot They Are Asking From Us”: College Athlete Experiences Of Division Iii To Division Ii Reclassification, Alexandra R. Mitchell, Martin Barrett

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of college athletes who were directly impacted by their institution’s pursuit of gaining membership to a different NCAA division (i.e., divisional reclassification). More specifically, this study sought to understand specific changes that accompany the Division III to Division II transition, which include: 1) divisional philosophy, 2) financial aid, 3) level of competition, 4) athletically related activities, and 5) academic standards. Conceptually, this study was guided by the stress appraisal and coping process. The Brief COPE inventory of coping responses was applied as a framework from which to understand how college …

Athlete Identity And Mental Health Among Ncaa Division Iii Student-Athletes, Sarah Stokowski, Alison Fridley, Chris Croft, Peyton Stensland, Skye Arthur-Banning

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Student-athletes often identify with the athlete role and demonstrate high levels of athlete identity. High athlete identity leads to many unintended consequences such as low career maturity and difficulty adapting to a life beyond sport. Additionally, high athlete identity often leads to mental health concerns among the student-athlete population. Informed by self-categorization theory (Turner, 1982), the purpose of this study was to explore athlete identity and mental health among NCAA Division III student-athletes. The Athlete Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS) and The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 were completed by 332 NCAA Division III student-athletes. The results demonstrated that Division III student-athletes …

Prevalence And Predictors Of Depressive Symptoms In Ncaa Division Iii Collegiate Athletes, Sayre Wilson, Sebastian Harenberg, Tara Stilwell, Justine Vosloo, Lindsey Keenan

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Mental health disorders are important health concerns among collegiate athletes. Estimations of elevated depressive symptoms in this population range from 1.1-26%. However, these data are derived mostly from NCAA Division I institutions or professional athletes. Evidence from lower divisions (e.g., NCAA Division III) is currently sparse in the literature. Hence, the primary purpose of the present study was to examine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in NCAA Division III collegiate athletes. The secondary purpose was to examine which mental health indicators predict depressive symptoms. In total, 186 participants completed several mental health scales (e.g., PHQ-9, DASS-21). The results revealed a …

“I Might As Well Get My Education”: The Experiences Of Black Male Division Iii College Athletes, Lisa M. Rubin, Rhema D. Fuller, Sarah Stokowski

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Division III college athletes have been largely ignored in the growing literature involving college sport. Given that the majority of college athletes that participate in high profile sports are athletes of color, there is a need to explore the experiences of this population, specifically at the Division III level. Informed by the Excellence Beyond Athletics (EBA) framework, which empowers students of color, especially Black male athletes, the purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of Black male athletes at two rural Division III institutions. Ten Black male Division III athletes took part in semi-structured interviews. Using inductive analysis …

Collaborative Initiative To Improve Diii Student-Athlete Well-Being, Bonni C. Hodges Ph.D

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

The professional literature contains little focused specifically on NCAA DIII. NCAA Goals data provide an overview of common characteristics and challenges of DIII student-athletes. However, the large number and variety of DIII member institutions merit DIII athletic programs assessing the needs and well-being challenges of its particular student-athletes and to create and tailor programs and interventions to support student-athlete well-being. A needs assessment of student-athlete well-being issues was carried out at an institution with a large DIII program. Part one, reported here, used focus groups of student-athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, and athletics administrators. Results suggested well-being challenges at this institution …

Introduction To The Special Issue: Ncaa Division Iii College Athlete Development And Experience, Bonni C. Hodges Ph.D, Lindsey Darvin Ph.D

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

There is abundant literature on a plethora of topics associated with intercollegiate athletics. Yet, when one begins to dig deeply into the previous literature, it becomes apparent that most of the attention of this work has focused on Division I (DI) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association [NCAA]. To that end, while the NCAA Division III (DIII) level contains a greater number of institutions and more athletes than either of the other divisions of play, this group has largely been ignored throughout the previous literature (NCAA, 2021a; Williams, et al, 2020). This lack of previous literature, combined with the fact …

Validation Of The Athletic Identity Measurement Scale In Youth Academy Soccer Players, Tom Mitchell Dr., Fieke Rongen, John Perry, Martin Littlewood, Kevin Till

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

The Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS) is a popular measure of Athletic Identity (AI). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the factor structure (7-item single factor and 3 factor model; Social Identity, Exclusivity and Negative Affectivity) of the AIMS within youth academy soccer players. A total of 259 male youth academy soccer players aged 12-18 years completed the AIMS. A series of confirmatory factor analyses, independent cluster modelling indicated support for the 7-item single-factor (AI) and the three-factor models but not within the same analysis. The results support the use of AIMS for the measurement of AI …

Exploring English Youth Academy Footballers’ Experiences Through Role Strain Theory, Rick Hayman, Remco Polman, Erika Borkoles

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Throughout adolescence and early adulthood, talented athletes must dedicate increasing personal resources to their sport. Recent empirical research found that applying Role Strain Theory (RST) was useful to contextualise international junior golfers’, acrobats’, gymnasts’ and Australian Rules footballers’ experiences of how they combined and coped with the competing role demands of sport and education. Findings demonstrated how role strain (RS) severity and regularity fluctuated during their youth careers but subsided during the latter teenage years. Surprisingly, limited research exploring how youth academy footballers simultaneously combine sport, education and social demands exists. This study determined the extent to which RS was …

Division I College Athletes’ Self-Perception: Investigating The Impact Of Race And Discrimination, Sean Strehlow, Sayvon Jl Foster, Rhema Fuller, B. David Ridpath, Alison Fridley, Sarah Stokowski

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Self-perception is the level of competency at which individuals evaluate themselves in certain areas or domains (Marsh & Shavelson, 1985). An individual’s self-perceptions contribute to their global self-worth and even predicts performance (Cuellar, 2014; Harter & Neemann, 2012). This study measures self-perception scores, as well as experiences with racial discrimination, of 306 NCAA Division I college athletes using the Self-Perception Profile for College Students (Harter & Neemann, 2012). Scores are compared across race. Findings suggest that White college athletes have significantly higher self-perception scores than college athletes of color - with recent discrimination (within the last year) as a significant …

"I Didn't Know How All This Works": A Case Study Examining The Transition Experiences Of Student-Athletes From High School To A Mid-Major Di Program, Mitchell T. Woltring, Caitlyn Hauff, Brooke Forester, Shelley L. Holden

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

The transition period from high school to college includes a myriad of issues specific to student-athletes (Bernhard & Bell, 2015; Bjornsen & Dinkel, 2017; Comeaux, 2015). The present study sought to illuminate the specific transition issues faced by mid-major, DI student-athletes by providing them the platform to describe them in their own words, and provide their own recommendations for improvement. Utilizing a semi-structured interview guide which addressed transition issues, the qualitative study included 23 student-athletes in focus group settings. Analysis of interview data led to the emergence of two themes, with accompanying subthemes: 1) Encounters with academic support, with subthemes …

Developmental Outcomes Of University Female Basketball Athletes As Participants In Peer Mentoring Groups, Jonathan Kroll, Kathleen Mcmillian-Roberts

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Peer group mentoring can stimulate developmental outcomes for university basketball athletes. Seven female university basketball athletes from an NCAA Division III team participated in peer mentoring groups over the course of an academic year. By sharing about their lived experiences, the researchers were able to capture narratives that illuminated the impact of this developmental relationship. Thematic analysis was utilized to explore these descriptions and collate them into findings relevant for athletes, coaches, Athletics administrators, and others. Findings presented below indicate that these peer group mentoring experiences (a) nurtured synergistic relationships; (b) cultivated athletes’ resilience; and (c) developed athletes’ self-efficacy

Enhancing Financial Literacy Among College Athletes, Lisa M. Rubin, Mindy Joseph, Sonya Lutter, Daron K. Roberts, Julian J. Jones

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

College students, including athletes, have limited exposure to financial education prior to enrolling in college (Britt et al., 2015). Athletes juggling two full-time roles as athlete and college student have limited time for financial education and the opportunity to work. Some athletes receive athletic scholarships and some do not, but either way, many athletes must seek additional funding and student loans to pay for college. Huston’s (2010) model demonstrated connections between financial literacy, behaviors, and education to serve as a framework for our study. The purpose of this study was to determine college athletes’ subjective and objective financial literacy, how …

They’Re Just Here For Ball: Proposing A Multi-Level Analysis On The Impact Of Collegiate Athletics At Historically White Institutions On Black Male Collegiate Athlete Holistic Identity, Trajuan Briggs, Allison B. Smith, Joseph Cooper

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

As the overrepresentation of Black male collegiate athletes (BMCA) increases in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I (DI) revenue-generating sports, coaches and athletic staff continue to overemphasize sport performance, while graduation rates for BMCA remain persistently lower than their peers and research continues to document transition out of sport concerns for this population. Proposing a multi-level approach, we explore the collegiate athletic factors that influence the holistic identity development of DI revenue generating BMCA at historically White institutions (HWIs) leading to difficulty transitioning out of sport. At the macro-level, the NCAA and its policies on eligibility are analyzed. At …

Self-Efficacy Belief And The Influential Coach: An Examination Of Collegiate Athletes, Erianne A. Weight, Megan Lewis, Molly Harry

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Self-efficacy beliefs related to the performance of a task have been identified as strong predictors of performance success. Research has hypothesized that the most influential contextual factor in athlete self-efficacy development is the athlete-coach relationship, yet there is little research on this relationship. The purpose of this study was to examine collegiate athletes’ perceptions of the prevalence of transformative and destructive coaches, the teaching methods athletes perceive to be transformative (strengthening self-efficacy belief), and the influence of coaching methods on sport self-efficacy belief. Just over two-thirds of the athletes expressed having transformative coaches while over one-third experienced coaches they defined …

Up, Down, And All-Around: The Swirling-Transfer Collegiate Athlete Experience, Ethan Swingle, Cristobal Salinas

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Intercollegiate athletics have become an integral part of campus life (Denhart, Villwock, & Vedder, 2010; Mixon & Trevino, 2005; Shulman & Bowen, 2001), and have grown exponentially in the resources universities put forth to participate in this extracurricular activity (Clotfelter, 2011). One of the biggest evolutions of intercollegiate athletics has been the collegiate athlete transfer phenomenon (Cooper & Hawkins, 2014); however, little research has been conducted on transfer collegiate athletes, or the transfer collegiate athlete experience. As such, the purpose of this instrumental case study was to discover and describe the experiences and perceptions of swirling-transfer collegiate athletes at Athletic …

Development Of The Life After Sports Transition (Last) Online Course For Collegiate Student-Athletes: Pretest-Posttest Study, Michael Stellefson, Trevor Bopp, Michael Odio, Min Qi Wang, Linxi Zhang

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Transitioning into athletic retirement can have negative impacts on college student-athletes’ psychological, social, emotional, and physical well-being, yet few educational programs exist to help augment college student-athlete preparation for embracing life after sports. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a new Life After Sports Transition (LAST) online course for college student athletes. A single group pretest-post-test study evaluated effects of the LAST course among a convenience sample of college student-athletes (n=10) attending a NCAA Division I university. Paired sample t-tests examined changes in athletic identity, psychological well-being, hope, and self-reflection/insight. Propensity score matching …

Tackling Difficult Conversations: Student-Athletes, Mental Health, And Emerging Technology, Todd Fraley, Stacy Warner, Christine Wilson, Gareth Jones, Michael Catalano

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Given the exponential growth of mental health issues on colleges campuses and the concerns regarding mental health disorders among elite level athletes, the NCAA (2016) has made recommendations to support and promote student-athlete mental health. However, to successfully address the increase in mental health issues, the development of effective communication skills is required. To address this, the researchers developed and built an immersive learning experience focused on “difficult conversations” using Mursion® technology. This pilot study contributes to this important conversation by analyzing the influence of an immersive experience on the student-athletes’ communication skills. Using a quasi-experimental design, 79 NCAA Division …