| Female student athletes face unique challenges during their collegiate careers associated with athletic pressure, academic requirements, personal growth, career development, and social acceptance. Previous studies have revealed numerous challenges faced by female student athletes compared to male student athletes and non-athlete students, and have shown that there is a need for a system of well designed support services to assist student athletes in their overall development. This qualitative case study was conducted to provide a better understanding of the perceptions of female student athletes on academic and support services. Research was completed at a Division III institution with a student population of roughly 1,000. A purposive sampling procedure was used to select 5 female student athletes who participated in interviews to provide information on academic and support services at the research site. Participation was limited to participants who were at least 18 years old, enrolled at the research site full-time, and who had utilized academic and support services at the research site for at least one year. Results from the study revealed that female student athletes rely most frequently on coaches and teammates for academic and psychological support, and their professors for academic support, many times in lieu of the professionally provided services on campus. Participants responded favorably to the cooperative support demonstrated by stakeholders, which aided them in balancing the academic and athletic demands they faced as student athletes. Coaches and professors at the research site were commended by participants for their apparent concern for student athletes' overall well being, and for supporting them equally on the playing field and in the classroom. Recommendations for future research include (a) replicating the study with a larger sample size, (b) replicating the study at larger institutions with a focus on the relationships and balance provided by academic and athletic stakeholders, and (c) replicating the study among all NCAA Division III institutions, to determine if there are any wholesale improvements that could be made to improve the experience of all Division III student athletes. |
