The Role of High School Coaches in the Intercollegiate Athletics Recruiting Process

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Joseph L. Smith (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Diane Gill

Abstract: This investigation examined the role of high school coaches during the intercollegiate athletics recruiting process. Data were collected using a self-report survey administered to 214 current NCAA Division II student-athletes representing four private institutions located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the country. Four sports were represented in the study - men's basketball, women's basketball, men's soccer, and women's soccer. Results indicated that, overall, student-athletes do not rely heavily on the high school coach for advice during the intercollegiate athletics recruiting process. Further, when ranked against other potential advisors, high school coaches are not viewed as primary sources of information for their students who are being recruited. Advice from high school coaches was most influential in areas related to athletics participation, but group mean scores were below the Likert-scale mid-point of 3.0. Advice from the coach related to academics, NCAA rules and procedures, and other college enrollment issues was deemed less important. Parents / guardians and college coacheswere reported as the most influential advisors during the recruiting process. Athletes in different sports rated reliance on the high school coach differently. Consistently throughout the study, men's and women's basketball participants rated assistance from the coach during the recruiting process much higher than did soccer participants. Because of their potential influence on the lives of their students, it would be beneficial for the high school coach to learn more about the overall recruiting process and develop strategies to better serve the young men and women under their guidance.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 2008
Keywords
High school coaches, Prospective student-athlete, Recruiting
Subjects
Coach-athlete relationships $z United States.
College athletes $x Recruiting.
School sports $x Education (Secondary)
Coaches (Athletics) $x Influence.
National Collegiate Athletic Association $b Division II.

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