Transition Experiences out of Intercollegiate Athletics: A Meta-Synthesis

Given the renewed focus as to the degree in which institutions of higher education are preparing their student-athletes for life after sports, this study used a qualitative meta-synthesis research method design to examine the transition experiences of college athletes out of intercollegiate sport. The researcher synthesized data from nine qualitative studies, leading to the identification of six themes characteristic of the transition experience: athletic identity, anticipation and preparation, branching out, satisfaction with athletic performance, loss of camaraderie and support systems. Finally, the manuscript discusses the results of the meta-synthesis in light of their theoretical and practical implications

“I Might as Well Get My Education”: The Experiences of Black Male Division III College Athletes

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 and descriptive coding, six final themes were established: College Choice/Financial Issues, Academics, Time Management, Athletic Identity/Culture, Commitment to Athletics, and Campus Climate/Black Experience. This study strives to better understand the experiences of Black male college athletes at the Division III level in hopes of enhancing the student experience through impactful programming

The Curious Case of Conference Realignment: A Call to Action for Research

This topical essay addresses the need for increased research related to the 2022-2023 iteration of conference realignment in college athletics. Namely, the essay provides a brief background on the massive shifts in major conferences beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. It suggests possible areas of inquiry for interested researchers that would provide benefit to academics, practitioners, and stakeholders of college athletics

From Crisis to De-escalation: An Examination of Politics in a U.S. High School Steroid Testing Program

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(6): 890-899, 2017. Preventing the use of performance enhancing drugs in sport has long been a concern for policymakers. In the United States, amidst national attention the state of Texas constructed the country’s largest steroid testing program for high school athletes. However, resource allocation steadily declined until the program was defunded in 2015. Using escalation of commitment theory as a framework, this conceptual paper examines the critical, but less studied, role of politics and de-escalation behavior that directed this distinct sport situation. By combining policy and media documents with the academic literature, this paper allows for a greater understanding of how the steroid testing program was formulated and implemented, which may influence how policymakers address steroids among amateur athletes in the future. This paper also offers new opportunities for future research by highlighting a new sport context in which escalation of commitment theory applies and specifically noting the significant role politics can play in escalation or de-escalation decision makin

“I will change the world”: The Intersection of Social Change and Male College Athletes’ Leadership Perspectives

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(6): 845-856, 2017. Historically, men have been characterized as task-oriented leaders who are motivated by desires for autonomy, wealth, and power (17, 33). However, these “masculine” views of leadership might not accurately capture the leadership motivations of Millennial males as the views were developed in previous generations (4). Given the commitment of many Millennials towards socially responsible attitudes and behaviors (18, 25), we utilized a qualitative research design to examine the influence of social change on the leadership motivations of Millennial male intercollegiate athletes. In doing so, we found participants were motivated to lead in order to affect social change within their communities and within society. Our findings indicate a new perspective, one which includes a commitment to social change, is potentially needed when discussing “masculine” views of leadership

The Impact of a Sport-Based Service Learning Course on Participants’ Attitudes, Intentions and Actions Toward Social Change

Framed in the context of a sport-based service learning program that engages in interdepartmental university partnerships (including athletics), the current study focused on addressing the need to analyze the long-term impacts of service learning on students’ intentions and actions toward social change. Service learning courses have been shown to facilitate positive outcomes such as increased cultural competency and future intentions toward civic engagement (Bruening et al., 2010, 2014). Building on this knowledge, the current study used in-depth interviews to investigate the social justice-related attitudes, intentions, and behaviors of alumni of a college service learning through sport course. Individual interviews (n = 22) with participants who had completed at least one semester in the course indicated that the course was influential in developing their ability to recognize social inequities. Furthermore, participants indicated future intentions and current involvement in initiatives that address social inequities in their given areas of life. Theoretical and managerial implications for effective academic and intercollegiate athletic partnerships, helping to increase impactful civic engagement and learning opportunities for student-athletes and non-student-athletes, are provided

Transition experiences out of intercollegiate athletics: A meta-synthesis

Given the renewed focus as to the degree in which institutions of higher education are preparing their student-athletes for life after sports, this study used a qualitative meta-synthesis research method design to examine the transition experiences of college athletes out of intercollegiate sport. The researcher synthesized data from nine qualitative studies, leading to the identification of six themes characteristic of the transition experience: athletic identity, anticipation and preparation, branching out, satisfaction with athletic performance, loss of camaraderie and support systems. Finally, the manuscript discusses the results of the meta-synthesis in light of their theoretical and practical implications

Perception or Reality: The Relationship Between Stereotypes, Discrimination, and the Academic Outcomes of African American Male College Athletes

The current study examined the degree to which stereotypes and racial discrimination affected the academic outcomes of African American male college athletes. Furthermore, the ability of athletic identity and racial identity to moderate this relationship was examined. Participants (N = 168) were recruited from 13 predominately White institutions across the United States. Results indicated a “tipping point” by which negative stereotypes and discrimination moved from having a positive effect to a negative effect on the academic achievement. In addition, certain dimensions of athletic and racial discrimination were found to moderate the relationship between stereotypes and discrimination and academic outcomes. Findings are discussed in relation to theoretical and practical significance

“But a champion comes out much, much later”: A sport development case study of the 1968 U.S. Olympic team

Increasing attention has been given to the effective development of elite athletes. In this inquiry, the authors used a historical case study to ascertain the ways elite athletes were developed in a different era of sport in the United States. Using the attraction, retention, and transition frameworks, the factors that fostered the development of athletes from the 1968 Summer Olympics were drawn out through oral history interviews. In total, interviews with 59 U.S. Olympians were conducted. The results reveal how the athletes experienced supportive recruitment and retention environments, were able to manage the difficulty of developing elite talent, and encountered both challenges and opportunities transitioning through and out of elite sport. This analysis demonstrates how sport development principles are diverse in their temporal relevance and reinforce the practical implications meant to serve the modern athlete. Further, at least some sport development principles could remain constant regardless of how context and elite athlete experiences evolve in the future

Let’s settle this on the (online) gridiron: Examining perceptions of rival brands and platforms in gaming and sport

This study investigates the differences in perceptions of rival brands and out-group members between fans of sport teams and electronic gaming/e-sports. Using the theoretical underpinnings of social identity theory, rivalry, in-group bias and the common in-group model, the authors compare the influence of setting and belonging to multiple in-groups on fandom and rival perceptions in sport and gaming. The study finds that compared with gaming fans and participants, fans of sport teams tend to report stronger negative perceptions of their rival teams and supporters. The study also finds that being a fan of both a sport team and gaming tends to influence more positive perceptions of rival brands and out-group members than being a fan of sport or gaming only. Finally, gamers that use an online platform report more negative perceptions of console platforms than vice versa, and ethnicity presents interesting influence on gaming participants. Implications for marketing professionals along with avenues for future investigation are also discussed