Quantifying and Qualifying the Educational Benefits of the Student-Athlete Experience

• In Event: Roundtable Session 17
  In Roundtable Session: Challenges Confronting Student-Athletes and Coaches From K-12 to College

Abstract

The organizational philosophy of housing intercollegiate athletics within the academy has largely been based upon the notion of athletics as a unique element of a holistic education. Scholars have referenced individual benefits of participation in competitive athletics. To date, however, many of these benefits have not been quantified with empirical research, and the educational legitimacy of intercollegiate athletics has become an area of intense media and public scrutiny. The purpose of this study was to examine self-discipline, self-esteem, leadership, and social/emotional intelligence within a sample of active university students and student-athletes in an effort to quantify the legitimacy of athletics as an educational endeavor geared toward producing future societal leaders (Brand, 2009).

Authors

• Kristina Navarro, University of Wisconsin

• Erianne Weight

• Landon Huffman

• Abbie Smith-Ryan