Navigating the Recruitment Maze: Latinx Athletes' Journey to College Athletics

• In Event: Latinx College Athletics, Identity, Masculinity Constructs, and Language Culture

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of Latinx college athletes as it pertains to their transition from high school to college sports. Despite their steadily rising percentage of the American population, Latinx students have been systematically excluded from the study of intercollegiate athletics. Guided by Latinx Critical Theory (LatCrit), this qualitative study explored the experiences of 12 Latinx college athletes pathways to NCAA Division I institutions. The themes that emerged included: (1) coach empowerment, (2) familial support; and (3) navigational capital. The findings in this study incorporate the overlooked stories of Latinx college athletes to highlight their perceptions and experiences.

Authors

• Guillermo Ortega, Idaho State University

• Nikola Grafnetterova, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi