Browsing by Author "Dale, Gregory Alan"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Disconnected Dyads: the Distressed Dynamics of the Coach/Athlete Relationship in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Intercollegiate Athletes
    (2016-05-05) Miranda, Lauren
    Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) athletes face a complex and heterosexist culture in athletics, maintained by stereotypes and harassment, that impacts them negatively: physically, mentally, and emotionally. Theories of social change suggest that their coaches can play an invaluable role in remedying this culture—starting with forging meaningful and supportive relationships with the athlete themselves. This study explored coach-athlete dynamics in various domains and in comparison to ideals as reported by a sample of LGB-identified, intercollegiate athletes using the Coach Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (CART-Q) and interview questions. It was hypothesized that the relationships between LGB-identified athletes and their coaches would be weakened and would show a significant disconnect between the athlete's reported ideal coaching relationship and their actual relationship. Results provide evidence to support these hypotheses, and show that LGB-identified athletes show weaker relationships with their coaches than other coach-athlete dyads. These athletes feel that they are missing various components of an ideal coach-athlete relationship as it pertains to trust, respect, and understanding of their identity. They suggest that this impacts their personal well-being, their performance as athletes, and their overall satisfaction on their team and in their sport. These findings imply that coaches need to take a more active role in creating an inclusive culture on their team through building more effective relationships and attempting to understand the different challenges that face their LGB-identified athletes.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    The New College Athletics Media Packages and the Effect on Title IX
    (2014-12-30) Senger, Kate
    In this paper I examine gender equity in collegiate athletics and specifically the impact of the recent explosion in the amount of money flowing to colleges and universities from new media contracts and the effect that money will have on women’s sports. I discuss Title IX’s history, implementation, critiques and clarifications as it applies to college athletics. I also discuss the statistics that will help understand where women currently stand within the culture of athletics. Bridging the two topics of gender equity and money in sports, I will also discuss briefly the evolution of college athletics and its relationship with television and how television has helped create the emphasis on men’s sports. Lastly, I will discuss court decisions that have helped women pursue equity in college athletics. Because of the changing landscape within college athletics at the present moment, the conclusions drawn in this paper are, to a degree, uncertain and speculative. More definitive answers regarding many of the topics this paper discusses will be determined in the coming years, but based on history, Title IX will remain a forceful and needed asset for women as they continue to strive to close the gap in college athletics.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Why Can't We Win? The Double-Edged Sword of Black Success in Sports
    (2015-05-06) Butler, Lex
    The premier sports in the United States, football and basketball, have become an avenue of social mobility for blacks. As more black athletes found success, the number of black participants increased drastically over time as evidenced by the disproportionate number of blacks in these sports as compared to in the general population. For the purpose of this study, the following questions are investigated: Why are blacks disproportionately represented, specifically, in football and basketball? What challenges has this phenomenon caused for blacks? As means of finding evidence, this research examines the history of the integration of blacks in sports and statistical data on the racial composition of sports on the intercollegiate and professional levels. Additionally, it explores the cultural influences that contribute to sport choice and athletic success in the black community. Lastly, the research addresses the numerous societal and personal challenges that black athletes, specifically, in the sports of football and basketball, face. Based on the research, blacks have a high participation rate and athletic achievement in football and basketball in comparison to other sports because of cultural influences such as socioeconomic status and black role models. Despite the success of black athletes in sports, they are still exploited and made to feel inferior, resembling the experiences of black people during the pre-Civil Rights era. Concurrently, blacks are relying heavily on a limited number of sports that have a significantly low chance of playing professionally while neglecting the ultimate opportunity to build a hopeful future through education.