Small Grant Projects
2023-2024
UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF FAMILY MEMBERS IN RELATION TO ACC STUDENT-ATHLETE MENTAL HEALTH
Jonathan Casper, Ph.D., North Carolina State University
Jason Bocarro, Ph.D., North Carolina State University
Tony Patterson, Ph.D., University of North Carolina
Chris Boyer, North Carolina State University
Michelle Joshua, CMPC, North Carolina State University
White Paper & Embedded Video Presentation
Study sought to explore parents of college athletes’ perception and understanding of athlete mental health and services provided through the university through surveys and focus groups of parents at two ACC universities. Results found parent’s overarching concerns with athlete’s lack of privacy and confidentiality and concern over negative perceptions of seeking help. Additionally, focus groups found many parents emphasizing the strong pressures their athletes face from coaches, academic life, and new NIL culture with little knowledge of mental health resources for their children at the university. Recommendations include: including sports psychologist in recruiting process, creating mental health information sheet for parents, and enhanced communication with parents throughout athletes collegiate career.
.
AN ANALYSIS OF TRANSFER PORTAL MOVEMENTS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE ATHLETIC PERFORMANCES OF ACC REVENUE SPORTS AND STUDENT-ATHLETES
White Paper & Embedded Video Presentation
Given the significance of the transfer portal in college sports and the gaps in understanding that exist, this study collected data on FBS football and DI men’s basketball players who entered the transfer portal from 2019 to 2023 to gain a clearer understanding of how the portal functions and how transfers affect the performances of players and teams. Findings revealed that the ACC and other autonomous conferences have lost more players than they have gained in the portal; however, in relation to outgoing players, players entering the ACC had higher levels of prior performance and experience. Furthermore, teams that were able to play talented transfers, especially in place of freshmen, tended to perform better. At the athlete level, football transfers into ACC programs did not experience significant changes in opportunity or performance, though athletes leaving the ACC tended to earn significantly more snaps at their new destinations. In basketball, players averaged more win-shares per 40 minutes and more minutes per game after leaving ACC programs.
Nathan David Pifer, Ph.D., Florida State University
Sachin Narayan, Florida State University
Dhruv Joglekar, Florida State University
MEAL: MEASURING ENERGY AVAILABILITY AND LIFESTYLE FACTORS AMONG FEMALE COLLEGIATE ATHLETES
Jessica L. Garay, Ph.D., RDN, CSSD, CSCS, Syracuse University
Margaret Voss, Ph.D., Syracuse University
Alyson Onyon, MS, RDN, CSSD, Syracuse University
Study in progress intending to increase understanding the entangled relationship between dietary intake, lifestyle factors, and exercise performance. Current study is tracking lifestyle patterns and biomarkers of 75 physically active female college students (with a collegiate athlete subgroup of 51) to gather data. Findings will be reported and explored by target completion date of 4/1/2025. This study will allow for more grounded and effective management of female student-athlete energy, leading to improved experience.
IMPACTS OF ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE ON EMPLOYEE TURNOVER
White Paper & Embedded Video Presentation
This study surveyed (N= ~1300) current athletic department employees to examine organizational culture and climate variables within this realm and interviewed eighteen former employees who had left the industry to see what experiences led to their departure from the industry. Findings consistently indicated high levels of workload - current employees indicated high levels of job support, but those who had departed highlighted “work first, personal life second” culture in collegiate sport. Recommendations include acknowledging career and life transitions, intentional development programs, and providing more opportunities for growth and recognition.
Meg Hancock, Ph.D., University of Louisville
Elizabeth Taylor, Ph.D., Temple University
Ehren R. Green, Ph.D., Temple University
Amy Giddings, Ph.D., Temple University
NAVIGATING THE WILD, WILD WEST OF NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS (NIL): EXPLORING THE EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN COLLEGE ATHLETES
Lindsey Darvin, Ph.D., Syracuse University
This study aims to research the nuances of the NIL experience of women college athletes, as most current research is based on the male athlete experience. Through semi-structured interviews with NIL practitioners and student-athletes. While interviews are ongoing, preliminary findings report varying institutional support for athletes, social media as key driver, and inequalities and unique opportunities between male and female athletes. Recommendations focus on addressing Gender-Based Equity, fostering education and community building between peers, coaches, and NIL practitioners, and creating more comprehensive support structures for women athletes.
CULTIVATING CHAMPIONS: EXPLORING LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMING AND ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT IN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS
Jessica Brougham, Ph.D., Texas Tech University
Isabel Schwam, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Elizabeth Taylor, Ph.D., Temple University
White Paper & Embedded Video Presentation
This study addresses leadership programming and athlete development initiatives within intercollegiate athletics by gathering data from athletic department employees. These employees filled a variety of roles from athletic directors and coaches to athletic training staff. Gathering data from a variety of staff within athletic departments (senior staff vs. other athletic department staff) allowed us to identify any disconnects in athletic department programming perceptions. Findings of the study indicate athletic department staff perceptions of programming appear to be relatively consistent, except across a few items.