“Do Not Question Authority”: Examining Team Rules in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Women’s Basketball

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 317-325
Author(s):  
Leslie K. Larsen ◽  
Leslee A. Fisher ◽  
Terilyn C. Shigeno ◽  
Matthew P. Bejar ◽  
Melissa N. Madeson
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Ncaa Division I ◽  
Student Athletes ◽  
National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽  
Division I ◽  
Consensual Qualitative Research ◽  
Athletic Departments ◽  
Organizational Loyalty ◽  
Supportive Environment ◽  
Women's Basketball

While the policies National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletic departments have in place regarding social media and drug abuse have been empirically investigated, research on the full battery of rules implemented by NCAA teams is scant. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the written team rules of 41 NCAA Division I women’s basketball teams to better understand the types of rules that are in place and to hypothesize the effects these rules might have on the development of an autonomy-supportive environment. Using Consensual Qualitative Research, the research team constructed seven domains with multiple categories to represent the data. The domains included the following: (a) program expectations, (b) controlled communication, (c) controlled relationships, (d) controlled appearance/attire, (e) controlled social behavior, (f) recommendations for optimal physical performance, and (g) academic expectation. Based on the results of this study, we conclude that NCAA Division I women’s basketball coaches use team rules as a tool for domination rather than a strategy for developing the autonomy of student-athletes. We offer practical suggestions for coach educators, coach developers, and coaches on best practices when creating team rules to develop an autonomy-supportive environment that strengthens organizational loyalty and improves the experiences of student-athletes.

The Existence of Sport Psychology Services Among NCAA Division I FBS University Athletic Departments and Counseling Centers

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 296-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric W. Hayden ◽  
Alan S. Kornspan ◽  
Zachary T. Bruback ◽  
Michael C. Parent ◽  
Matthew Rodgers
Keyword(s):  
Sport Psychology ◽  
Ncaa Division I ◽  
Student Athletes ◽  
National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽  
Division I ◽  
Counseling Centers ◽  
Athletic Departments ◽  
University Counseling ◽  
University Counseling Centers ◽  
Division I Football

One hundred twenty university counseling centers and athletic-department websites were viewed and analyzed for the provision of sport psychology services specifically to NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division I Football Bowl Championship Series (FBS) student athletes. Using content-analysis methodology, the present research identified a fair number of university athletic departments (n = 29) and university counseling centers (n = 6) that provided specific sport psychology services. In addition, most athletic departments and counseling centers that provided sport psychology services had one individual on staff who was listed as the service provider. Results of the study are discussed in relation to providing a current understanding of the extent to which sport psychology is presently being provided to NCAA Division I FBS university student athletes. Future qualitative research is recommended to examine the work of professionals providing sport psychology services in athletic departments and counseling centers to better understand the precise nature of the services provided.

scholarly journals Not Going Pro: On Seeking Lasting Returns from College Sports

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Horner ◽  
Neal Ternes ◽  
Christopher McLeod
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Ncaa Division I ◽  
Capital Investment ◽  
Student Athletes ◽  
Sport Participation ◽  
National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽  
Collegiate Athletics ◽  
Division I ◽  
Personal Investment

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) clearly states there are many favorable qualities derived from participation that benefit those “who go pro in something other than sports.” However, the ability of collegiate athletics to deliver on the promise of attributable long-term vocational value is rarely questioned. Instead, student-athletes are encouraged to think of their participation as a personal investment with enduring rewards for the investor. In this study involving former NCAA Division I student-athletes, the authors examined whether participation can be regarded as an investment and how student-athletes perceive the returns thus derived. Extending Becker’s (1962) theory of human capital investment to sport participation, the authors probed participants’ experiences for evidence of investment thinking and lasting benefits in corporeal, economic, social, and cultural varieties. The findings support the notion that participation in collegiate athletics can be broadly defined as an investment, but not in accordance with the long-term utility maximizing rationale described by neoclassical economists. Furthermore, the high cost of participation, inherent uncertainty, and unreliable information confound the athlete’s decision-making and blur the distinction between consumption in the present and investing for the future.

scholarly journals Who should we hire?: Examining coaching succession in NCAA Division I women’s basketball

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A Pierce ◽  
James E Johnson ◽  
Brian D Krohn ◽  
Lawrence W Judge
Keyword(s):  
Team Performance ◽  
Ncaa Division I ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Division I ◽  
Market Area ◽  
Athletic Departments ◽  
Future Performance ◽  
Women's Basketball ◽  
Online Sources ◽  
Newly Hired

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of newly hired coaches in relation to their predecessors, and utilize the analysis to provide guidance to decision makers in college athletic departments. This study examined 185 coaching changes in Division I women’s basketball in 16 conferences between 2000 and 2009. Data were collected from online sources including institutional websites, media guides, and media articles. Latent class analysis was employed to reduce the data to one item per factor. Factors included demographics, coaching ability, coaching experience, past team performance, hiring factors (coaching level change, inside/outside hire, interim, conference affiliation), and institutional factors (public/private, demographic market area, enrollment, budget, and National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics standings). Mixed models analysis was performed to identify which categories have a relationship with changes in the number of wins following a coaching change. Results suggest that past team performance was the strongest indicator of future performance after a coaching change.

scholarly journals Career Experiences of Female Registered Dietitians in NCAA Division I Athletic Departments

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Hardin ◽  
Lauren Antle ◽  
Lauren Beasley
Keyword(s):  
Ncaa Division I ◽  
Student Athletes ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Care Team ◽  
Division I ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Registered Dietitians ◽  
Athletic Departments ◽  
Career Experiences ◽  
Nutritional Education

The National Collegiate Athletic Association passed legislation in 2014 to allow for unlimited meals and snacks for college athletes. This policy change created a need for full-time registered dietitians (RDs) to ensure student-athletes are properly fueled and monitor their dietary habits. RDs are now considered to be a key member of the college athlete holistic care team, and this has created a unique professional niche for RDs. There is a lack of research exploring the experiences and challenges of this emerging profession in college athletic departments. Nine RDs working in NCAA Division I athletic departments participated in semi-structured interviews to examine their career experiences. Three themes were constructed from the data analysis: (a) professional transition; (b) nutritional education; and (c) (dis)respect. The respondents discussed their participation in sport or volunteer experience was what pushed them to pursue a career as a sports dietician. One of the primary functions of their position is to build trust with the student-athletes and provide them with nutritional education so they will develop healthy eating habits. The respondents also struggled with a lack of acceptance of the importance of their position on the interprofessional care team. Some had positive experiences with administrators, but most had negative experiences and a general lack of understanding of the professional expertise they had.

scholarly journals ¿Por qué jugar? Sport socialization among Hispanic/Latina female NCAA division I student-athletes

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 27-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey Darvin ◽  
Alicia Cintron ◽  
Meg Hancock
Keyword(s):  
Intercollegiate Athletics ◽  
Ncaa Division I ◽  
Student Athletes ◽  
Sport Participation ◽  
National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽  
Female Athletes ◽  
Division I ◽  
Elite Group ◽  
Athletic Success ◽  
Potential Factors

Representation of Hispanics/Latinas in intercollegiate athletics is lacking. During the 2014-2015 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletic season, only 2.2 percent of all female Division I student-athlete’s identified as Hispanic or Latina (NCAA, 2015). This low percentage of Hispanic/Latina female participants calls into question how these young women become involved in athletics and sustain their involvement within sport. While previous research has examined the socialization processes of youth athletes and parents of youth athlete participants, there is little research aimed at examining these processes for elite-level athlete participants (Dorsch, Smith, & McDonough, 2015; Greendorfer, Blinde, & Pellegrini, 1986;). Thus, the aim of this current study was to examine the potential factors that may have contributed to consistent sport participation for an elite group of Hispanic/Latina female athletes throughout their youth and collegiate careers. Participants for this study identified as current NCAA Division I Hispanic/Latina female student-athletes. Results showed that family, specifically parents and siblings, contributed to socializing Hispanic/Latina athletes into sport, while family and coaches contributed to the persistence of their athletic endeavors. Findings also show a sense of cultural indifference, youth coaches who invested in the participants long-term, and a significant involvement of the patriarch of the family in their athletic success.

The Positives and Negatives of Twitter: Exploring How Student-Athletes Use Twitter and Respond to Critical Tweets

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 503-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blair Browning ◽  
Jimmy Sanderson
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Ncaa Division I ◽  
Student Athletes ◽  
Division I ◽  
Communication Research ◽  
Athletic Departments ◽  
Sport Communication ◽  
Social Media Platform ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Media Platform

Twitter has become a popular topic in sport communication research. Little research to date, however, has examined Twitter from the perspective of student-athletes. This research explored how student-athletes at an NCAA Division I university used Twitter and reacted to critical tweets from fans. Semistructured interviews with 20 student-athletes were conducted. Analysis revealed that student-athletes used Twitter in 3 primary ways: keeping in contact, communicating with followers, and accessing information. With respect to critical tweets, student-athletes reported various perceptions about them and diverse strategies for responding to them. The results suggest that Twitter is a beneficial communicative tool for student-athletes but also presents challenges, given the ease with which fans attack them via this social-media platform. Accordingly, athletic departments must be proactive in helping student-athletes use Twitter strategically, particularly in responding to detractors.

scholarly journals Mental Toughness in Collegiate Strength and Conditioning: Widely Used, Widely Misunderstood

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Stamatis ◽  
Eric L. Robinson ◽  
Grant B. Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Ncaa Division I ◽  
Student Athletes ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Division I ◽  
Mental Toughness ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Strength And Conditioning ◽  
Women's Basketball

Researchers explored the value of mental toughness (MT) for strength and conditioning coaches (SCC) for women’s basketball of a NCAA Division I conference. Eight SCCs completed a questionnaire and six participated in a semi-structured interview. Results showed that, while there is no agreement whether MT can be developed in student-athletes or about its key attributes, all coaches believe MT is of value. Further, none of the participants reported being aware of or using an instrument to measure MT. Conclusions are that MT is a widely-used but relatively unclear construct. Future research should focus on definition, measurement, and implementation issues.

scholarly journals Division I Athletic Director Trends and Perceptions of Requisite Professional Skills

2019 ◽  
pp. 102-121
Author(s):  
Eric Wood ◽  
Stephen Dittmore ◽  
Sarah Stokowski ◽  
Bo Li
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Culture ◽  
Ncaa Division I ◽  
National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽  
Division I ◽  
Athletic Departments ◽  
Athletic Director ◽  
Sports Industry ◽  
Top Executives ◽  
Analysis Methodology ◽  
Intercollegiate Athletic Departments

Abstract The focus of this study was to understand perceptions of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I athletic director (ADs) skills and experiences and their relative importance to their current position.  Division I ADs hold the highest position of authority in intercollegiate athletic departments at the highest level of competition in the NCAA (Swift, 2011).  What once was seen as a job for retired coaches, has now transformed into a role that attracts some of the top executives both in and outside the sports industry (Belzer, 2015).  Indeed, universities have begun to resemble a corporate culture, with ADs frequently considered to be CEOs of their department and the universities they serve (Hardin, Cooper & Huffman, 2013).  Since much of the research on AD career paths has employed a content analysis methodology, examining biographies of ADs to establish patterns, (e.g., Fitzgerald, Sagaria, & Nelson, 1994; Hardin et al., 2013; Lumpkin, Achen & Hyland, 2015), the current study sought to understand ADs perceptions of requisite skills and experiences by directly surveying the group.  Results indicate current ADs place a high emphasis on developing skills relative to revenue generation, fundraising and development, while considering internal experiences such as working with academic services and life skills not nearly as important.

scholarly journals The Coach’s Journal: Experiences of Black Female Assistant Coaches in NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie Larsen ◽  
Leslee Fisher ◽  
Lauren Moret
Keyword(s):  
Black Women ◽  
Ncaa Division I ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Student Athletes ◽  
Black Female ◽  
Division I ◽  
Black Females ◽  
Assistant Coaches ◽  
Women's Basketball ◽  
Female Coaches

In NCAA Division I women’s basketball, Black female coaches make up only a small percentage of the total number of coaches (i.e., 26%; NCAA, 2016) even though the majority of student-athletes are Black (i.e., 51%). Although these discrepancies have recently been recognized in sport studies literature (Borland & Bruening, 2010; LaVoi & Dutove, 2012), sport psychology researchers have yet to explore the underlying structural and psychological issues that lead to the underrepresentation of Black female coaches in NCAA Division I women’s basketball. To this end, we utilized narrative inquiry (Smith & Sparkes, 2009a) in the current study to explore the stories of eight NCAA Division I women’s basketball assistant coaches who identify as Black females. During face-to-face interviews, participants described the roles they are asked to fill and the ways they cope with the multiple oppressions they experience as Black women in coaching. The first and second authors co-constructed four themes, (a) Pregame: Learning to coach; (b) First half: Experiences from the first 10 years; (c) Second half: Experiences from the last five years; and (d) Overtime: Thinking about the future, throughout their thematic analysis of these narratives (Braun & Clark, 2006). It is hoped that these findings will lead to the development of interventions that can empower NCAA Division I Black female coaches as well as challenge current structural ideologies that disadvantage Black female coaches in this context. Further, creating a more inclusive environment at NCAA Division I institutions could enhance the experiences and coaching career aspirations of Black female student-athletes by allowing them to see empowered Black female role models in coaching positions. Implications for certified mental performance consultants (CMPCs) working within NCAA Division I women’s basketball, who are well positioned to contribute to these efforts, are also discussed.

A Case-Study Analysis of NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament Broadcasts: Educational or Commercial Activity?

2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 516-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard M. Southall ◽  
Mark S. Nagel
Keyword(s):  
Ncaa Division I ◽  
National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽  
Division I ◽  
Critical Examination ◽  
Commercial Activity ◽  
Educational Mission ◽  
Organizational Conditions ◽  
Women's Basketball ◽  
The Impact

Over the past few years the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I women’s basketball tournament has drawn larger crowds, generated increased television ratings, and attracted higher levels of advertising spending. Division I women’s basketball is now viewed as the women’s “revenue” sport. In light of the limited analysis of the organizational conditions that frame college-sport broadcast production, this case study examines the impact of influential actors on the representation process of big-time college-basketball telecasts. Using a mixed-method approach, this article investigates production conditions and processes involved in producing women’s basketball tournament broadcasts, examines the extent to which these broadcasts are consistent with the NCAA’s educational mission, and considers the dominant institutional logic that underpins their reproduction. In so doing, this case study provides a critical examination of women’s basketball tournament broadcasts and how such broadcasts constitute, and are constituted by, choices in television production structures and practices.

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