Success Through Engagement: The Role of Athletic Team Membership

Abstract

Student-athletes competing at the Division I level face numerous distractions that could ultimately impact their levels of engagement. Focusing on student-athlete perceptions, the goal of this study was to develop foundational knowledge and a strong empirical base for a better understanding of significant issues around engagement in intercollegiate athletics. This remains important in today’s society, given the magnitude of college athletics and the pressures student-athletes face consistently. The literature is divided into sections that focus on different variables related to student-athlete engagement. The study seeks to answer the following research question: Does a lack of student-athlete engagement lead to decreased student athlete-outcomes academically and athletically? Using a mixed-methods model (surveys and selected interviews) and the symbolic interaction theory, this paper will analyze relevant literature and understand the issue deeper. The study took place at a large, urban, R1 research institution in the Northeast and focused on 600+ student-athletes. This study had 60 participants, followed by seven interviews conducted. The Survey was based on the National Survey of Student Engagement. Of the survey respondents, quantitative results indicated that student-athletes at this institution were like to be female and white. All participants are varsity student-athletes and represent one of the sports at this institution. Aspects significant to student-athletes engagement were time spent practicing, traveling for competition, academic commitments, relationships with other students, faculty, and athletic administration staff, and their overall level of satisfaction with the institution they attended. These findings indicate that their levels of engagement rely heavily on their athletic and academic experiences. Further, the findings share authentic insight into their experiences through different variables that focus on institutional engagement. Implications for this study focus on further addressing what student-athletes need, addressing gender bias, enhancing student-athlete-centered programming, revising support from the athletic department, and enhancing non-athletic services tailored for student-athletes.