Due to their influential roles in the lives of their players, understanding coaches' attitudes and perceptions toward LGBQ+ student-athletes is essential for assessing how safe collegiate sport environments are for LGBQ+ athletes. However, the research in this area has been limited. The present study aims to address this gap by investigating coaches' perceptions of LGBQ+ athletes to inform policy and education for promoting inclusive sport environments for these athletes. Participants were 1,533 collegiate coaches (Mage = 39.65 years; women = 41.3%; White = 83.7%; non-Hispanic = 86.4%; heterosexual = 74.9%) drawn from all three NCAA Divisions. In an open-ended, text response question, coaches were asked to identify the extent to which they would support and accept athletes on their teams being open about their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and to describe the reasoning for their beliefs. Through reflexive thematic analysis, six higher order themes capturing coaches' rationales were identified: (a) levels of acceptance, (b) i coach, therefore i am…, (c) supportive environments are essential, (d) as a queer coach…, (e) limiting queerness, and (f) sexual orientation does not provide a competitive advantage. Analyses illuminate avenues for LGBQ+ athlete inclusion policies and training for coaches.

This study used semi-structured interviews of athletic directors to present a descriptive narrative of academic support provided to student athletes in five Southern California high schools. These interviews highlighted what supports were provided as well as structures that would better support student athletes. The impetus of this study was the mixed findings regarding the academic performance of student athletes in comparison to their non-athlete peers. While high school students must satisfy academic requirements to remain eligible to participate, California high schools are not required to provide academic support to their student athletes (California Interscholastic Federation, 2017). Without an obligation to provide academic support, some schools may not (or cannot) invest in the resources needed to ensure that student athletes remain academically eligible, causing further disparate outcomes. The purpose of this research was to investigate what academic supports were being provided by five Southern California high schools to ensure that all student athletes were eligible to play their sport while achieving academic success. Additionally, the study further uncovered what structures athletic directors believed would better support their student athletes. This study applied the Total Person Program (TPP), a framework utilized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), as a basis of holistic supports for student athletes. Through analysis of the interviews, the researcher curated strategies that were being used to support the academic performance of student athletes and synthesized the ideas about structures that would better support student athletes. The results revealed that a collaborative approach is needed to implement various academic supports. The athletic directors identified that structures need to change to address the variance in academic performance and support student athletes with applying to college. Findings also point to the leadership capacity of athletic directors.

The purpose of this study was to further investigate the experience of international student-athletes (ISA) studying and competing at the collegiate level in the United States. This mixed methods study used a survey and interviews to probe ISAs' challenges and support sources. ISAs attending a large private four-year university located in the western United States along with university athletic support staff participated in this study. In the survey comments and interviews the ISAs expressed that they are highly concerned with their ability to financially survive in this new environment. A demanding schedule requiring the balancing of athletics and academics does not leave ISAs time to make money to provide for their needs. With name, image, likeness (NIL) deals becoming the norm in NCAA sports, ISAs further expressed their frustration with not being allowed to participate in these deals. Regarding cultural adjustment, ISAs suggested through their survey responses that they face difficulty with the university academic expectations in the United States and cultural differences. ISAs are most likely to consult with a friend at the university or a coach of their team during challenging or difficult times and almost never with an academic advisor or professor. Other factors influencing the ISAs included their target language ability and religion.

Syftet med studien var att undersöka upplevelser av utmaningar och copingstrategier hos före detta RIG-studenter i Sverige. Deltagarna i studien utgjordes av sju personer, fyra kvinnor och tre män, i åldrarna 22–31 (M=25.1, SD=3.1). För att undersöka syftet tillämpades en semistrukturerad intervjuguide, med utgångspunkt i den holistiska karriärsutvecklingsmodellen (Wylleman, Reints & De Knop, 2013). Frågor om idrott, skola, privatliv och kombination av alla tre faktorer var centrala. Resultatet i studien visade att den största utmaningen under det första året var att anpassa sig till en ny miljö, under det andra året var den övergripande utmaningen att hantera högre idrottslig och akademisk nivå och tidshantering och under det tredje året handlade utmaningen om att hantera ytterligare idrottslig nivåökning och vad deltagarna skulle göra i framtiden, efter gymnasiet. De viktigaste faktorerna som uppmärksammades av deltagarna var svårigheten att lägga ner tillräckligt med tid till idrotten, skolan och privatlivet, hantera skada samt att få tid till personliga aktiviteter och återhämtning. Resultatet visade även att den viktigaste copingstrategin var socialt stöd från familj, vänner och tränare, i form av instrumentellt och emotionellt stöd. Även personliga resurser, som till exempel självdisciplin, självreglering, planering och stresstålighet ansågs vara viktiga copingstrategier. Baserat på resultatet i föreliggande studie rekommenderas att tränare, lärare och föräldrar får bättre förståelse om livet som RIG-studenter så att dubbla karriärer normaliseras i samhället. / The purpose of the study was to investigate the experiences of challenges and coping strategies among former student-athletes who had studied at different RIG’s in Sweden. Seven participants, four women and three men, in the ages between 22–31 (M=25.1, SD=3.1) took part in the study. To investigate the purpose, a semi-structured interview guide was applied, based on the holistic athletic career model (Wylleman et al., 2013). Questions about sport, studies, private life and a combination of all three factors were central. The result showed that the biggest challenge during the first year was adapting to a new environment, the hardest challenge overall during the second year consisted of dealing with a higher athletic and academic level as well as time management and the most important challenge during the third year was dealing with even higher athletic levels and dealing with the future, what would happen after RIG. The factors that were mentioned the most were the difficulty to dedicate enough time to the sport, the studies and the private life, dealing with injuries, as well as making time for personal activities and recovery. The study also showed that the most important coping strategy consisted of social support from family, friends and coaches, in terms of instrumental and emotional support. Even personal resources, for example self-discipline, self-regulation, planning and stress management were important coping strategies. Based on the result of the present study, it is recommended that coaches, teachers and parents get a better understanding of the life as a RIG-student, in order to normalize the concept of dual careers in society.

The goal of this study was to develop a detailed understanding of the academic, athletic, and psychosocial needs and issues of African American male student-athletes attending a predominately White public flagship institution of higher education during their transitional first year and determine if, how, and who were meeting these needs. In addition to the well-known lower graduation rates and academic struggles of African American male football players, there are numerous psychosocial and cultural issues and barriers these young men face during their transition such as commitment, discrimination, and isolation (Hyatt, 2003). Mentoring has been used as a tool for developing organizational members in many different contexts and disciplines such as business (Kram, 1985), higher education (Johnson, 2007), and sport management (Jones, Harris, & Miles, 2009). Further, since African American male student-athletes have an array of academic and psychosocial needs, researchers need to look beyond the traditional model of having one primary mentor and explore the potential of a “critical mass” or network of mentors. Twelve first-year African American male student-athletes participated in semi-structured interviews at the conclusion of the first and second semesters of their first year of college. Additional key institutional stakeholders included four upperclassmen African American male student-athletes, three former African American male student-athletes and four faculty and staff members, also participated in interviews with the researcher to add further insights into the first-year experience. Results indicated that African American male student-athletes went through five major transitions: an academic transition, an athletic transition, an athlete status transition, a transition into a less diverse environment, and a transition away from home. Ideal mentors for these individuals were typically African American men who provided role modeling, promoted critical thinking through interactive dialogue, and gave advice on personal and academic issues. Mentoring networks for this population must at least include African American males from the faculty and staff at the university and professionals in the community along with older teammates. Research findings will be of interest to researchers, administrators (academic and athletic), and practitioners who desire to improve the academic, psychosocial, athletic, and overall college experience of African American male student-athletes. / text

In todays society sports has become a major part in people’s life, with the emerging of professionalization it’s become a thriving business that generates big money. An outcome of this evolution of sports as meant that most athletes must put more time and energy in to their athletics to have a chance to reach their dreams of being a professional athlete. And if an athletes dream get cut short somehow, the process of moving out of sport has been shown to somtimes be a difficult process for athletes that don’t have anything to fall back on. That’s why it is important for athletes to have the option to be able to combine their athletics with academics. The purpose of this study was to examine how a duel career, support services and life skills help to balance out the negative outcomes of pursuing a professional career in sports while also working for a higher education. During this study eight men and two women that where playing ice hockey and studying at an NCAA division 1 university where interviewed about their perceptions being student-athletes in a high performance university that has high standards on academics and sports. The results showed that most of support services offered to the student athletes helped them in reducing stress and having a more balanced life between sports and studies. The results also showed that the student-athletes perceived that they prioritized hockey and studies highly and their free time to do other things suffered because of that. Another aspect in the result showed that community service, which was part of the student-athlete program, helped them with putting things in perspective and affected them in a positive way in being student-athletes.

The problem with which this study is concerned is to determine whether or not differences exist in the achievement of student development tasks by college student athletes and non-athletes. The investigation also tested for differences in the achievement of developmental tasks between athletes and non-athletes based on the variables of race (black or white), classification, and interpersonal behavior orientation. The sample was composed of 276 male students (201 non-athletes and 75 athletes) who attend a large private university in Texas. Each participant completed both a student developmental task inventory questionnaire, which measures individual achievement of the tasks of developing autonomy, purpose, and mature interpersonal relationships, and an interpersonal relationship orientation-behavior instrument, which measures an individual's orientation to others on the scales of inclusion, control, and affection.

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to investigate the lived experiences of academic advisors who have master’s degrees in counseling in addressing wellness with college student-athletes. Of particular note was to explore if they addressed wellness and, if so, how they addressed wellness. Extant literature is replete with evidence documenting the numerous challenges and stressors student-athletes experience due to their athlete status. Prior to this study, the role of the academic advisor in addressing wellness has not been represented in the literature. This study examined the lived experiences of 10 academic advisors with counseling degrees, or currently enrolled in graduate level counselor education programs, in addressing wellness with college student-athletes through semi-structured individual interviews. Results from the data analysis yielded four themes and seven sub-themes: Academic Skills and Planning, Counselor Practice and Knowledge (emphasis on fostering relationships, counseling skills and theory, and athletic empathy), Barriers to Seeking Support Services, and Cultivating Holistic Wellness in Student-Athletes (career and life skill development, psychological support, coach-advisor relationship, and case management). The findings suggest that academic advisors are addressing wellness with their college student-athletes. Moreover, the results provide specific insights as to how academic advisors utilize their counseling skills when providing wellness services. These results provide several implications for counseling programs, academic advising, and athletic departments. Suggestions for future research are also included.

This study focused on the experiences of Black male student-athletes in Division I sports and used critical race methodology to present counter narratives. These narratives highlighted successes and heightened awareness about the needs and concerns of an extremely important, but often silenced, population. The purpose of this research was to examine the experiences of Black male student-athletes in the Division I revenue-generating sports of basketball and football. This study examined how Black males perceived the effectiveness of the NCAA supports in place for their academic success, degree attainment, and postcollegiate leadership and career opportunities. This dissertation also sought to understand the extent to which the legacy of racism in the United States has impacted the collegiate experience of these athletes. This research utilized critical race theory to frame the counter narratives of Black male student-athletes participating in this study. Through counter stories, the researcher offered suggestions that more effectively serve NCAA Black male student-athletes during their transition into and beyond Division I university sports participation as a strategy to achieve social justice for a historically marginalized group.

The prospective student-athletes’ use of an online recruiting platform to seek college scholarships has become a norm. College coaches recruit prospective-student athletes often using tools like global personal contacts, on-site recruiting, and online recruiting platforms. Online recruiting platforms offer several services and vary in price. This study examines female student-athlete golfers’ use of the online recruiting platform to seek scholarships from a global perspective. Previous research suggests that prospective student-athletes prefer online recruiting platforms while college coaches often use other outlets which can lead to miscommunication and lost opportunities. The services, price, and usability of 20 sports online recruiting platforms in the United States were examined to find out what is offered to prospective-student athletes. Interviews of NCAA Division I collegiate coaches were conducted to examine the most common recruiting tools used by the coaches and their opinions of the use of online recruiting platforms.