Handling Student-Athletes through the Lens of Educational Leaders

Abstract

Handling student-athletes has been a challenging yet rewarding journey for educational leaders. This phenomenological inquiry study aims to explore the experiences of educational leaders in handling student-athletes. This study conducted an In-depth Interview of ten (10) school heads or principals to share their experiences regarding setbacks, coping strategies, and insights on handling student-athletes. The findings reveal that educational leaders need more sports equipment and practice facilities, school funds, and coaches’ skills training, and there are student athletes’ low academic performance and misbehavior. However, this study presents that the abovementioned setbacks can be addressed by internal fund allocation, resource generation, coaches’ skills development programs, and student athletes’ development programs. This study also discloses that educational leaders perceive that well-funded sports program produces better results. They also believe stakeholders play an essential role in sustaining their financial performance. More than that, educational leaders realize that competent coaches significantly bring out winnable student-athletes. They likewise point out that student-athletes must value academics as they value sports. The study’s findings serve as a basis for developing a quality management system for sports programs that may include plans, programs, projects, activities, and policies that can improve the management of sports programs. Paper presentation and publication of this paper may add to the related studies and literature on sports management.