National Collegiate Athletic Association Student-athletes Research Articles

Return to Play at Preinjury Level After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Divisions II and III National Collegiate Athletic Association Student-Athletes.

The rates of return to play (RTP) after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction among professional and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I athletes are well described in the orthopaedic literature. Less is known about these rates and risk factors for failure to RTP in Division II and III collegiate athletes. To determine the RTP rate after ACL reconstruction among Division II and III collegiate athletes and to explore the factors associated with RTP. Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Demographic and RTP data were retrospectively reviewed for collegiate athletes who underwent ACL reconstructions across high-risk sports over 6 years (2015/16 to 2021/22 seasons) at 5 northeastern NCAA Division II and III institutions. Clinical data collected included Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) on the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Sport and Recreation questionnaire, graft type, concomitant reparative surgery, reinjury, need for reoperation, and time to RTP and return to preinjury level. Participants completed the survey using a secure web-based questionnaire sent via email or over the telephone at a minimum 6-month follow-up. Descriptive frequencies were calculated for all documented variables, with chi-square and analysis of variance statistics used to assess for associations and significant differences between variables. A total of 61 eligible student-athletes with primary ACL reconstructions were identified in this study period, and 40 knees were enrolled for analysis with a mean time from surgery to survey completion of 45.0 months. The overall RTP rate was 77.5% (31/40) at a mean of 10.1 months. However, only 50.0% (20/40) returned to their preinjury level of competitive play. There was a graft failure rate of 20% (8/40). Of the 32 athletes who did not reinjure their ACL, 81.25% (26/32) demonstrated a PASS on KOOS Sports and Recreation. Graft rerupture (P < .001) and reoperation (P = .007) had significant effects on rates of RTP. Concomitant procedures (P = .010) influenced return to preinjury level of sports. Injury during the active season versus the off-season significantly influenced KOOS PASS status (P = .038). This study demonstrated that the rate of RTP after ACL reconstruction in this patient population of Division II and III collegiate athletes was 77.5%, with only 50% returning to their preinjury level of competitive play. The graft failure rate in this population was 20%. Surgical factors, such as concomitant surgeries and reinjury of ACL graft, as well as athlete-specific data, such as injury in the off-season, were statistically significant negative influences on patient outcomes. Further research is needed to evaluate other potential factors that may play a role in RTP after ACL reconstruction.

Body Checking Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Ice Hockey: Findings From the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program 2009/10 to 2019/20.

To describe the epidemiology of body checking injuries in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men's Ice Hockey. Secondary data analysis of historical cohort data. A convenience sample of injuries in NCAA Men's Ice Hockey during the 2009/10 to 2019/20 academic years. NCAA student-athletes. Event type, season, time loss, body part, diagnosis, player position, and mechanism. This study examined injuries that occurred during practice or competition, regardless of time loss, reported to the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used. The injury rate and proportion ratios with 95% confidence intervals were also constructed. Three independent logistic regression models were constructed to examine differential odds of time loss (≥1 day; TL) injury and the 2 most common injuries, between body checking injuries and all other injuries. Overall, 1290 body checking injuries (rate = 1.59/1000 athlete-exposures) were reported during the study period. Most were attributed to the upper extremity (42%) or head/neck (27%). The competition injury rate generally decreased after 2012/13. After adjusting for covariates, odds of (1) a TL injury was lower and (2) an acromioclavicular sprain was higher among body checking injuries as compared with injuries attributed to all other activities. Odds of concussion was not associated with body checking injuries. Body checking injuries were frequently attributed to the head/neck and upper extremities, and the rate of these injuries during competition appeared to be decreasing. Still, improvements in helmet and shoulder pad technology may further improve health and safety.

Epidemiology of Hamstring Tears in National Collegiate Athletic Association Athletes: Findings From the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program Between 2014/2015 and 2018/2019.

To describe the epidemiology of hamstring tears in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports. Descriptive epidemiology study. Athletic trainers from NCAA schools reported injuries to the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program. A convenience sample of NCAA hamstring tear injuries during the 2014/2015 through 2018/2019 academic years. NCAA student-athletes. Sport, sex, event type, season segment, injury history, and activity at the time of injury. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used. Two thousand ninety-six hamstring tears from 8 474 400 athlete-exposures (AEs) were reported (2.47 per 10 000 AEs). Rates were highest in Men's Soccer (5.97 per 10 000 AEs) and Women's Soccer (3.13 per 10 000 AEs), among all Men's and Women's sports, respectively. Competition-related rates in Men's and Women's sports were highest in 2015 to 2016 then followed a decreasing pattern across the remainder of the study period. Among sex-comparable sports, rates were higher in men's (compared with women's) Baseball/Softball, Soccer, and Track and Field. The prevalence of recurrent injuries was comparable among men's (14.8%) and women's (11.5%) sports. Time loss hamstring tears were more prevalent in Men's sports than Women's sports [injury proportion ratio = 1.33; 95% confidence interval, (1.21, 1.47)]. Overall, hamstring tear rates were higher across all Men's sports compared with Women's sports. Rates across event type were comparable in several sports; and so, adjustments to practice are needed considering that practice environments are more modifiable than competitions. Indeed, improving hamstring tear prevention programs to reduce the burden of this injury in NCAA athletes remains critical.

Exploring Coaching Leadership Behaviours in Strength and Conditioning Coaching: Preferences of NCAA Division I and II Collegiate Student-Athletes Based on Task Dependence

To explore collegiate student-athletes? preferences of coaching leadership behaviours in strength and conditioning (SC) coaching and evaluate differences between the preferences of coaching leadership behaviours based on task dependence. Method a total of 145 National Collegiate Athletic Association student-athletes (independent sports athletes = 48, interdependent sports athletes = 97), aged 18-25 years, with a mean = 3 (SD = ±1) SC sessions per week, participated. Participants completed an electronic questionnaire involving the athletes? preference version of the Revised Leadership Scale for SC. Results summary statistics revealed that the most favoured behaviour was 'training and instruction', median = 4.5 (IQR = 1.0), while the least favoured was ?autocratic?, median = 2.0 (IQR = 0.5). Independent sports athletes preferred training and instruction more (median = 5.0, IQR = 0.6) than interdependent sports athletes (median = 4.5, IQR = 1.0). Interdependent sports athletes preferred social support more (median = 3.5, IQR = 1.0) than independent sports athletes (median = 3.0, IQR = 0.6). The observation of a marginal statistically significant difference for social support suggests task-dependence-based variations (p = 0.018). However, small effect sizes indicate that differences are not practically significant. Conclusion and recommendation: this study presents insights into the preferences of coaching leadership behaviours among student-athletes in SC coaching. It highlights key behaviours such as training and instruction, positive feedback, situational considerations, and social support. These findings inform coaching practice and provide a foundation for further research into coaching leadership behaviours in SC coaching.

Evaluation of a student pharmacist approach to NCAA substance education for student athletes

Background and purposeThe National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) requires schools to provide anti-doping education to student athletes. The purpose of this project was to assess the effectiveness of student pharmacist-led education on NCAA student athletes' knowledge of banned supplements and nutritional/dietary supplements. Educational activity and settingStudent athletes at one Midwest public university were provided a 20-min educational presentation on banned substances and nutritional and dietary supplements delivered by two student pharmacists. Student athletes were invited to complete a knowledge assessment at baseline and after the presentation. The assessment consisted of two demographic questions and 13 knowledge questions. FindingsTwo hundred thirty-three student athletes provided matched pre- and post-intervention data for analysis. There was an increase in the mean knowledge scores (13 points maximum); 9.8 (75%) before and 11.1 (85%) after the intervention. Student athletes gained more knowledge in the topic areas of stimulant medications and identification of credible drug sources. They gained less knowledge in the topic area of anabolic steroid use. SummaryStudent pharmacist-led education resulted in statistically significant increases in student athlete knowledge of banned substances and nutritional/dietary supplements. The educational presentation is adaptable and easily transferable to other universities. Schools of pharmacy should consider implementing student pharmacist-led education to student athletes to meet NCAA education requirements.

Can We Talk? Exploring the Effects of Mental Health Stigma, Support, and Openness on National Collegiate Athletic Association Student-Athlete Mental Health

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student athletes may have more stigmatic views toward mental health (MH) and be less open to talking about or seeking support for MH struggles than their peers. This may contribute to and/or exacerbate existing MH challenges. This cross-sectional study explored the impact of MH stigma, support, and openness on student athletes’ levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among 478 NCAA student athletes representing 20 different sports from 56 universities. Results indicated that male, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), and Division I athletes reported higher levels of MH stigma. Compared with their White peers, BIPOC athletes exhibited less openness to talk about MH challenges. Division I and BIPOC athletes felt less supported to seek help for MH concerns. Structural equation modeling showed that MH stigma was positively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress, whereas MH openness was negatively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Research/practical implications, limitations, and future research and athletic department programming needs are discussed.

Social justice attitudes and behavioural intentions of NCAA student-athletes: the role of life skills

ABSTRACT Within the United States of America alone, athletes - and particularly professional athletes - have long been utilising their unique positionality as a platform to advocate for social justice and to be actively engaged activists for social change. While social justice advocacy and activism are increasingly seen within professional sports, engagement in such efforts has been more limited among collegiate student-athletes. As such, the purpose of this study was to examine how life skills moderate the relationship between attitudes and behavioural intentions pertaining to social justice among National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes. A sample of 218 Division I NCAA student-athletes completed an online survey that assessed their perceived life skills learned in sport, social justice attitudes, and social justice behavioural intentions. The analytical approach included a series of moderation analyses testing the moderation effect of each life skill on the relationship between social justice attitudes and behavioural intentions. Emotional skills, interpersonal communication, and social skills each significantly and positively moderated the relationship between student-athletes' social justice attitudes and social justice behavioural intentions. However, problem-solving and decision-making, goal-setting, time-management, teamwork, and leadership skills had non-significant interaction effects. The results suggest that life skills, especially interpersonal skills beneficial to social interactions, can be assets for student-athletes as they consider progressing towards social justice action. Efforts should also be put forward to better comprehend the role of coaches using an implicit and/or explicit approach to life skills and its impact on their social justice awareness and behaviour intention.

Nutritional Supplement Use and Athletic Characteristics among a Sample of NCAA Division I and Division III Student-Athletes

Due to documented adverse events, understanding the prevalence of nutritional supplements commonly used by athletes is essential. This cross-sectional study used data from a web-based survey conducted in February-March 2022. Participants were Division I (DI) and Division III (DIII) student-athletes of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Chi-square tests were conducted to identify the differences in the prevalence of demographic and athletic characteristics between the divisions. Multivariable odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using logistic regression adjusting for potential confounders to determine the predictors of supplement usage. A total of 247 NCAA student-athletes (72.5% Division I, 27.5% Division III) completed the survey, yielding a 24.5% response rate. There were no significant differences between nutritional supplementation and NCAA divisions. Instead, all student-athletes used supplements regardless of division. There were significant differences in race, ethnicity, sports dietitian access, name, image, and likeness (NIL), advisement to consume NS, and knowledge of NS between the divisions (all P-values < 0.01). Unadjusted regression models showed that being in an upper-level academic standing was associated with higher odds of using sports food and ergogenic supplements than student-athletes with a lower-level academic standing. However, multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that none of the demographic and athletic characteristics significantly affected supplement usage. Allocating resources for access to sports dietitians and supplement education for all divisions may benefit student-athletes knowledge and safety.

“Posting More than Just a Black Square”: National Collegiate Athletic Association Student-Athletes’ Perceptions of the Athletic Department’s Role in Social Media, Racial Justice, and the Black Lives Matter Movement

There is a rise in athletes and sports organizations utilizing social media activism to discuss social injustices. Social media staff are tasked with communicating such messages, often with little insight into how it impacts their athletes. Empirical research is necessary to understand the perspectives of athletes to inform best practices for the staff. The purpose of this study was to assess college student-athletes’ perceptions of their athletic departments’ involvement in promoting racial justice and the Black Lives Matter movement on social media. We surveyed 273 student-athletes from 40 universities for their perspectives. Quantitatively, we explored four factors: affective responses to the posts, perceived conflict, the role of the athletic department in using social media to discuss the topic, and the perceived qualifications of the athletic department to post about the topic. MANOVA revealed Black student-athletes were significantly more likely to believe that it was the athletic department’s role to address racial justice than their non-Black counterparts, with no significant differences in the other three factors. Qualitatively, student-athletes’ reactions were classified into three themes: social activism communication strategy, strategies to develop race conscious culture, and challenges to social media activism. Athletic department staff can utilize the findings to implement a strategy.

College Student-athletes' COVID-19 Worry and Psychological Distress Differed by Gender, Race, and Exposure to COVID-19–related Events

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes’ exposure to COVID-19–related events (e.g., canceled season, diagnosed with COVID) and their psychological distress in April/May 2020. MethodsThe link to the online survey was emailed to NCAA student-athletes by the NCAA Student Athlete Advisory Council and the athletic departments of 80 NCAA institutions. In April–May of 2020, student-athletes (N = 5915; women = 3924) completed the online survey once. The survey included measures of their psychological distress, COVID-19 worry, and their exposure to different COVID-19–related events. To examine differences in exposure to COVID-related events by racial, ethnicity, and gender identities, we conducted logistic regressions. A path analysis examined relationships between COVID-related events, COVID-19 worry, and psychological distress for men and women. ResultsStudent-athletes’ exposure to COVID-19 events differed significantly by gender, race, and ethnicity. In addition, 58.7% of women's and 54.5% of men's psychological distress variance was explained by the path model and mostly by their COVID-related worry. Student-athletes’ stress was directly related to the changes that occurred in class delivery (i.e., online format) and indirectly by being quarantined. Men's psychological distress was also related through worry by their sport season being canceled. DiscussionThe general uncertainty and worry about COVID individuals experienced at the beginning of this pandemic primarily explained the athletes' high levels of psychological distress. As COVID-19 continues to cause quarantines and changes educational experiences, the worry and psychological distress of college students are likely to continue.

A National Study on Drinking Game Behaviors and Related Consequences Among NCAA Student-Athletes: Racial/Ethnic and Sex Differences

Research indicates that college student-athletes report more alcohol use and negative drinking consequences than non-student-athletes. One drinking practice that has been linked to heavy alcohol use and related consequences is playing drinking games. In the present study, we investigated which segment of the student-athlete population is most at risk for frequent drinking game participation, elevated alcohol consumption while playing drinking games, and negative drinking game consequences. We examined sex and racial/ethnic differences in behaviors and consequences associated with drinking games in a national sample of White, Hispanic, Black, and Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) student-athletes. A total of 11,839 student-athletes (51.4% women) from 165 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) member institutions who endorsed lifetime participation in drinking games completed a confidential online survey. Hierarchical linear modeling revealed that being a White (vs. Black or Hispanic) student-athlete was associated with more frequent drinking game participation, and among AAPI and Black (but not White or Hispanic) student-athletes, men played drinking games more frequently than women. Being a Black (vs. White) student-athlete was associated with more drinking game consumption; no sex differences in drinking game consumption were found among Black student-athletes. Among White, AAPI, and Hispanic student-athletes, being a male student-athlete was associated with more drinking game consumption. Finally, female student-athletes had a higher likelihood of experiencing one or more negative consequences from drinking games than did male student-athletes. The association between drinking game participation and negative drinking game consequences was also stronger for women compared with men. Student-athletes are heterogeneous with regard to drinking game behaviors and related consequences. Knowing who is at greatest risk for drinking game participation and related outcomes is an important first step in developing targeted intervention approaches for student-athletes.

Prevalence of Food Insecurity in Collegiate Athletes Warrants Unique Solutions

Abstract Objectives Food insecurity is a public health concern in the US. Collegiate student-athletes may be at increased risk due to the nutritional and physical demands of performance and, limited time for employment and food preparation/intake. The objective of this study was to determine the rate of food insecurity and its characteristics among The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes. Methods A cross-sectional analysis of student-athletes attending a public university in rural East Texas in 2018 was conducted. A 26-item questionnaire including sociodemographic characteristics and the six-item U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module (US-HFSSM), adapted to reflect the prior six months while training, was administered electronically to NCAA student-athletes. Each affirmative response to the US-HFSSM was given a score of “1” and summed to create a raw score ranging from 0–6. Participants with a score of 0–1 were considered food secure; those with a score of 2–4 (low food secure) or 5–6 (very low food secure) were considered food insecure. Results Ninety-one student-athletes (27% response rate) representing 13 sports completed the questionnaire. Participants were 19.81 ± 1.3 years old, mostly female (85.7%), Caucasian (67%), and of normal weight (BMI of 18.5–24.9 kg/m2; 74.7%). Nearly half (39.6%) reported food insecurity despite receiving wide-ranging assistance via scholarship support (86.1%) and/or the possession of a meal plan (42.9%). Food insecure participants reported limited money (25%) and time (19.4%) as barriers to food intake. Independent-samples t tests were conducted to compare grade point average (GPA) and BMI of food secure and food insecure groups. GPA was lower in the food insecure (M = 3.26, SD = .52) than the food secure group (M = 3.58, SD = .41); (t(63) = 3.06, P = .003) while BMI was higher in the food insecure (M = 24.05, SD = 3.56) than the food secure group (M = 22.85, SD = 2.17); (t(52) = –1.807, P = .077). Conclusions Despite the provision of scholarships and meal plans, the prevalence of food insecurity reported among NCAA student-athletes was similar to previous reports among the general collegiate population. Unique solutions that address the increased nutrient demands and time constraints associated with sport participation are warranted. Funding Sources N/A.

Clinical Reaction-Time Performance Factors in Healthy Collegiate Athletes.

In the absence of baseline testing, normative data may be used to interpret postconcussion scores on the clinical reaction-time test (RTclin). However, to provide normative data, we must understand the performance factors associated with baseline testing. To explore performance factors associated with baseline RTclin from among candidate variables representing demographics, medical and concussion history, self-reported symptoms, sleep, and sport-related features. Cross-sectional study. Clinical setting (eg, athletic training room). A total of 2584 National Collegiate Athletic Association student-athletes (n = 1206 females [47%], 1377 males [53%], and 1 unreported (<0.1%); mass = 76.7 ± 18.7 kg; height = 176.7 ± 11.3 cm; age = 19.0 ± 1.3 years) from 3 institutions participated in this study as part of the Concussion Assessment, Research and Education Consortium. Potential performance factors were sex; race; ethnicity; dominant hand; sport type; number of prior concussions; presence of anxiety, learning disability, attention-deficit disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, depression, or migraine headache; self-reported sleep the night before the test; mass; height; age; total number of symptoms; and total symptom burden at baseline. The primary study outcome measure was mean baseline RTclin. The overall RTclin was 202.0 ± 25.0 milliseconds. Female sex (parameter estimate [B] = 8.6 milliseconds, P < .001, Cohen d = 0.54 relative to male sex), black or African American race (B = 5.3 milliseconds, P = .001, Cohen d = 0.08 relative to white race), and limited-contact (B = 4.2 milliseconds, P < .001, Cohen d = 0.30 relative to contact) or noncontact (B = 5.9 milliseconds, P < .001, Cohen d = 0.38 relative to contact) sport participation were associated with slower RTclin. Being taller was associated with a faster RTclin, although this association was weak (B = -0.7 milliseconds, P < .001). No other predictors were significant. When adjustments are made for sex and sport type, the following normative data may be considered (mean ± standard deviation): female, noncontact (211.5 ± 25.8 milliseconds), limited contact (212.1 ± 24.3 milliseconds), contact (203.7 ± 21.5 milliseconds); male, noncontact (199.4 ± 26.7 milliseconds), limited contact (196.3 ± 23.9 milliseconds), contact (195.0 ± 23.8 milliseconds). Potentially clinically relevant differences existed in RTclin for sex and sport type. These results provide normative data adjusting for these performance factors.

No Clinical Predictors of Postconcussion Musculoskeletal Injury in College Athletes.

This study aimed to identify clinical predictors of postconcussion subsequent musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries. We recruited 66 National Collegiate Athletic Association intercollegiate student-athletes with a diagnosed concussion as well as 36 National Collegiate Athletic Association student-athletes without a concussion. All participants completed a multifaceted concussion baseline consisting of 1) 22-item 0-6 self-reported symptom checklist with outcomes including both the number of symptoms endorsed (0-22) and 2) total symptom score (0-132), 3) Standard Assessment of Concussion, 4) Balance Error Scoring System, 5) Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing, 6) clinical reaction time, and 7) the King-Devick as well as demographic and injury characteristics. The concussion participants completed the same examination acutely postconcussion, and binary logistic regression was used to identify predictors of subsequent MSK from the change scores (acute minus baseline). From the 66 concussed student-athletes, a subset 36, matched with the healthy athletes, compared the risk of subsequent MSK in the year before and year after their concussion. The concussion participants were 1.78 times (95% confidence interval, 1.12-2.84; P = 0.015) more likely to suffer a lower extremity MSK in the year after their concussion than the control participants. The participant demographics and injury characteristics (P = 0.318) and concussion clinical outcomes (P = 0.461) did not predict subsequent MSK. The concussion participants were 1.78 times more likely to sustain a subsequent MSK; however, no demographic, injury characteristic, or concussion assessments predicted the MSK. Thus, clinicians are not able to utilize common neurological measures or participant demographics to identify those at risk for subsequent lower extremity MSK. Injury prevention strategies should be considered for collegiate student-athletes upon premature return to participation after a concussion to reduce the subsequent MSK.

Trends in Recurrent Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries Differ From New Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in College and High School Sports: 2009-2010 Through 2016-2017.

Background:Knee injuries are common and result in extended time missed from sports participation. Little is known regarding the comparative characteristics of recurrent versus first-time anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries sustained during athletic events and how they are influenced by sex, sports participation level, and game-time features.Purpose:To evaluate the characteristics (sex, sports level, and game timing [ie, early vs late in the game]) of recurrent ACL injury in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and high school athletes compared with first-time ACL injury.Study Design:Descriptive epidemiology study.Methods:Athletic trainers reported ACL injury occurrences and characteristics for collegiate athletes during the 2009-2010 through 2016-2017 academic years and for high school athletes during the 2011-2012 through 2013-2014 academic years. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs for recurrent versus first-time ACL injury. The number of ACL injuries, proportions, and ORs were calculated by sex, competition level, and time in game played. Results were also classified according to injury mechanism: noncontact, overuse, or surface contact.Results:A total of 705 ACL injuries were reported, including 644 first-time injures and 61 recurrent injuries. When restricting to noncontact ACL injuries, 416 were reported (373 first-time injuries and 43 recurrent injuries). The odds of a recurrent versus new ACL injury in NCAA student-athletes were 4.6 times that of high school student-athletes (95% CI, 1.41-15.24; P = .01). When restricting to noncontact ACL injuries, the odds of a recurrent versus new ACL injury during postseason and preseason were 4.5 and 2.8 times that during the regular season, respectively. Athletes in limited-contact and noncontact sports had greater odds of a recurrent versus new ACL injury compared with athletes playing football and other contact and collision sports. There was no significant difference in the odds of a recurrent ACL injury by sex or time in game.Conclusion:Based on the current study, the odds of recurrent ACL injuries are associated with the level of competition but not associated with sex or timing of game play. Determinants of reinjury after primary ACL reconstruction will help advance care for young injured athletes who continue to participate in competitive sports.

Early Single Sport Specialization in a High-Achieving US Athlete Population: Comparing National Collegiate Athletic Association Student-Athletes and Undergraduate Students.

Early single-sport specialization and the relative age effect are often cited as improving the chances of sport success. Both concepts suggest that genetics and the environment have little influence on sport success. To compare National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I student-athletes (SAs) with their undergraduate nonathlete peers (NAs) in terms of birth month, age of sport initiation, and age of single-sport specialization. A family history of sport participation was examined as a potential marker for genetic and social influences. Cross-sectional survey. Large urban university. A total of 273 Division I SAs (138 women, 135 men) and 155 NAs (78 women, 77 men) participated. The NAs had been involved in competitive youth sports before entering the university. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire that addressed the age of sport initiation, birth month, age of single-sport specialization, and parental and sibling sport achievement. Neither birth month nor the age of sport initiation differed between groups (age of sport initiation = 7.16 ± 2.6 years for the SAs versus 7.71 ± 3.5 for the NAs; P = .176). A larger proportion of SAs began participating before 10 years of age (80% versus 63%; P = .02). The parents of SAs were more likely to have participated in collegiate (32.4% versus 8.4%; P < .0001) and professional (10.9% versus 1.3%; P = .0005) sports. The SAs specialized in a single sport at an older age (15.38 ± 2.7 years versus 14.30 ± 2.6 years; P = .002). Both groups participated in multiple sports in childhood (SAs = 3.9 ± 1.8 sports, NAs = 3.2 ± 1.8 sports; P = .366). The Division I SAs did not specialize in a single sport at a younger age than the NAs. No evidence of a relative age effect was present. Importantly, higher levels of sport achievement among the parents and siblings of SAs suggest that genetic endowment and family or other environmental dynamics play a large role in athletic performance. Overall, the results are not consistent with deliberate practice theory and point toward an alternative model that includes not only sport-specific skill development but also genetic and social factors as key elements of long-term sport achievement.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Athletic Trainers: Collegiate Student-Athletes' Perceptions.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) athletic trainers (ATs) face uncertain acceptance in the workplace. To examine the perceptions of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes toward ATs who identified as LGBTQ. Cross-sectional design. Web-based survey. A total of 623 (males = 212, females = 403, other = 8; age = 19.7 ± 1.4 years) NCAA student-athletes completed the survey. Participants completed a 19-item survey to assess their perceptions about the appropriateness of, quality of care from, and comfort with ATs who identified as LGBTQ. We asked 10 demographic questions and 2 questions regarding the student-athlete's exposure to individuals who identified as LGBTQ. Five matrix questions had 5 stems each to represent LGBTQ individuals on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree) and 2 open-ended questions elicited qualitative data. We analyzed characteristics of central tendency to evaluate the level of appropriateness, quality of care, and level of comfort perceived by student-athletes of ATs who identified as LGBTQ. We used Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests for post hoc analyses where appropriate. We used grounded theory to identify themes in the answers to the open-ended questions. Participants indicated they would seek health care and would feel comfortable approaching an AT who identified as LGBTQ. Participants agreed it was appropriate for an LGBTQ AT to work with both male and female sports and did not agree that health care provided by heterosexual and LGBTQ ATs differed. The open-ended responses revealed 4 themes: professionalism, upbringing, situational concerns, and concerns about specific populations that affected their perceptions. In general, the NCAA student-athletes had positive perceptions of ATs who identified as LGBTQ.

Discussing eating disorders amongst NCAA student-athletes

Eating disorders or disordered eating amongst National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes is a cause for concern for universities, coaches, athletic trainers and most importantly the young men and women who are suffering from the pressures of being a student-athlete. As a result, many of these student-athletes have to seek guidance and counseling at an early time in their collegiate career. The purpose of this conceptual paper is to indicate the warning signs and symptoms of disordered eating assist in understanding the classification of such symptoms and to discuss the preventative measures to be taken to reduce the risk of eating disorders. Strategies for improving and assessing the current well0being of students-athletes and the different types of disordered eating are discussed.

Baseline Performance of NCAA Athletes on a Concussion Assessment Battery: A Report from the CARE Consortium.

Sport-related concussion and repetitive head impact exposure in contact sports continue to receive increased attention in public and medical spheres. The Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium, a multicenter cooperative, was established to study the natural history of concussion in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) collegiate student-athletes across 29 colleges and universities in the United States. The purpose of this investigation is to provide normative data from the CARE Consortium and evaluate for differences between sport categories. NCAA student-athletes were evaluated annually for general demographics and sport-specific characteristics before the start of the competitive season. We collected demographic and medical history information and evaluated each student-athlete's neurocognitive function, neurological status, postural stability, and self-reported symptoms. Sports were categorized by the amount of contact typically associated with the sport (i.e., contact, limited contact, non-contact). Comparisons between the three sport categories for the evaluated variables were made using linear or zero inflated negative binomial regression models adjusted for gender, concussion history, and household income. Over a 2-year period (August 2014-July 2016), 15,681 NCAA athletes completed preseason evaluations. Overall, 53% of the athletes were in the contact sport group, 31% were in the limited contact group and 17% were in the non-contact group. After adjusting for covariates, there were statistically significant differences found between athlete groups, although the differences and effect sizes were small and not clinically significant. The contact sport group had better scores on Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment Testing (ImPACT®) visual and verbal memory, Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) symptom checklist, and Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18), but slower ImPACT reaction time and worse scores on Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC). Further, the data indicate that some ImPACT score distributions were noticeably different from those presented in the technical manual. In this large, racially and socio-economically diverse cohort of male and female college athletes, we found no evidence that student-athletes participating in contact sports have clinically meaningful deficits in pre-season cognitive and balance testing. They also did not report significantly more symptoms of psychological distress when compared with student-athletes in non-contact or limited contact sports. In addition, the data suggest potential limitations when using published ImPACT norms when evaluating injured athletes.

The Epidemiology of Severe Injuries Sustained by National Collegiate Athletic Association Student-Athletes, 2009-2010 Through 2014-2015.

Few researchers have described the incidence of the most severe injuries sustained by student-athletes at the collegiate level. To describe the epidemiology of severe injuries within 25 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports in the 2009-2010 through 2014-2015 academic years. Descriptive epidemiology study. Aggregate injury and exposure data from 25 NCAA sports. Collegiate student-athletes in the 2009-2010 through 2014-2015 academic years. Injury data from the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program were analyzed. A severe injury (1) occurred during a sanctioned competition or practice, (2) required medical attention by an athletic trainer or physician, and (3) resulted in at least 21 days lost from sport activity or a premature end to the sport season. Injury counts, proportions, rates per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs), rate ratios (RRs), and injury proportion ratios were reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 3183 severe injuries were reported, for an injury rate of 0.66/1000 AEs. Wrestling had the highest severe injury rate (1.73/1000 AEs), followed by women's gymnastics (1.40/1000 AEs) and football (0.97/1000 AEs). Overall, the severe injury rate was higher in competition than in practice (RR = 4.25, 95% CI = 3.97, 4.56). Most severe injuries were reported during the regular season (69.3%, n = 2206); however, severe injury rates did not differ between the preseason and regular season (RR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.91, 1.06). Common severely injured body parts were the knee (32.9%, n = 1047), lower leg/ankle/foot (22.5%, n = 715), and head/face/neck (11.2%, n = 358). Common severe injury diagnoses were sprains (32.9%, n = 1048), strains (16.9%, n = 538), and fractures (14.4%, n = 458). Common severe injury mechanisms were player contact (39.3%, n = 1251), noncontact (25.1%, n = 800), and surface contact (12.0%, n = 383). Severe injuries occurred across many sports and by numerous mechanisms. By identifying these sport-specific patterns, clinicians' efforts can be tailored toward improving injury-prevention strategies and health outcomes.