"The purpose of this study was to identify factors that most influence prospective female volleyball student-athletes' selection of an NCAA Division I university. This research was an applied, cross-sectional study using a multi-method approach of collecting data using surveys and telephone interviews. The sample in this study was approximately 500 Division I female collegiate volleyball players from sixty-four universities"--Abstract. / Typescript. / "Spring Semester, 1998." / "Submitted to the Department of Physical Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy." / Advisor: Robert A. Rider, Professor Directing Dissertation. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 124-131).

The purpose of this study was to determine the importance recent recruits of football programs placed on athletic facilities (specifically football facilities) in the selection of a NCAA Division I-A football team. Specifically, the opinions of recruited freshman at selected NCAA Division I-A football programs in the Big Ten Conference were examined.Participants completed a 21 item questionnaire that ascertained the football players opinions of how football facilities influenced their decisions to play football at the institution, their opinions on how the university and the football program influenced their decision to play football at that institution, and a ranking of 11 facility factors. Athletes (N = 88) representing three schools in the Big Ten Conference completed the questionnaire. The most influential factors in the recruiting process were coaching staff (M = 1.65, SD = .98) and the strength and conditioning facilities (1Vi = 2.02, SD = 1.06). Furthermore, this study found that the top five facility factors that NCAA Division I-A football players rank are strength and conditioning facilities, an academic lab, location of facilities, stand-alone facilities, and an indoor turf field. / School of Physical Education