The thematic emphasis of NCAA official recruiting visits during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) instituted a recruiting dead period from March 2020 to June 2021. During this time, prospective college athletes were prohibited from visiting college campuses. Many institutions conducted virtual official recruiting visits to engage recruits with the coaching staff, campus environment, and current athletes. Utilizing athletic role engulfment as a theoretical framework, this study sought to examine the thematic components of official recruiting visits among NCAA Division I institutions during the NCAA-mandated dead period due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings indicate that while official recruiting visits conducted in a virtual setting place greater emphasis on an academic theme than traditional on-campus official visits, differentiations between NCAA subdivision member institutions and recruit gender continue to foster and perpetuate athletic role engulfment among prospective college athletes. Practical ramifications related to international recruitment and the changing priorities of recruits are discussed.