Student-athlete Development Research Articles

Coaching Behavior and Student-Athlete Performance in a Women’s Universty in China

Coaching in the realm of sports has transcended its traditional boundaries, evolving into a multifaceted discipline that encompasses much more than simply teaching technical skills or devising winning strategies. Coaches are now recognized as pivotal figures who wield immense influence over the development, motivation, and performance of student-athletes.This study determined the relationship between coaching styles and student-athlete performance with the end view of developing a comprehensive guide for a team-building program for both the coaches and athletes.The researcher used the descriptive-comparative correlational research design,The researcher will only select the athletes who are actively involve in the sports program of the university and who are bonafide athlete of Hunan Women’s University during the conduct of the study. The researcher made use of the researcher-made questionnaire which was the main tool to gather the data in this research.Statistical Treatment of the Data includes Frequency Count and Percentage,Weighted Mean,t-test/Analysis of Variance (F-Test),Pearson’s r.The analysis of athlete respondents' perceptions reveals a high level of satisfaction and positive perception regarding their relationship with the coach.The self-assessment of student athlete respondents demonstrates a noteworthy trend of consistent and high levels of self-assurance and confidence across various dimensions of their athletic performance.There is strong positive correlations observed between coach behavior and athlete self-assessment and it underscores the importance of supportive, communicative, and motivating coaching approaches in enhancing athlete performance and well-being. Based on these findings, the study proposes six measures such as prioritizing sports programs and strengthening injury prevention programs.

The Need for Sport Social Workers in College Athletics

College sports place significant pressure on student-athletes and necessitate the recognition and resolution of social, emotional, and environmental needs. To provide comprehensive support, the integration of social work professionals with sport expertise in college athletic departments is proposed. By encompassing mental health support, advocacy, and the resolution of challenges pertaining to well-being and identity, the application of social work principles provides student-athletes a well-rounded college athletic experience. Education and training for sport social workers are highlighted as crucial aspects for effectively navigating the complexities of college athletics. These specialized programs equip social workers with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide effective support to student-athletes. By considering their unique needs within the college context, sport social workers can contribute to the development and success of student-athletes. This article emphasizes the significance of addressing the well-being of student-athletes in college athletics through the integration of sport social work principles. In doing so, a supportive environment can be cultivated, promoting the student-athletes’ overall development and success. A focus on inclusivity and the application of social work principles in youth sports further highlights the broader impact that social work can have in addressing social issues.

Academic Self-Efficacy and Sports Mindset among Collegiate Student Volleyball Players in China

The global rise in sedentary lifestyles among adolescents, primarily due to insufficient physical activity, presents a significant public health challenge. In China, physical inactivity is prevalent among school-aged children, with concerns over academic scheduling contributing to a decline in physical education programs. Research suggests that engaging in physical activity enhances cognitive function without compromising academic performance. This study investigates the relationship between the sports mindset and the academic and athletic performance of volleyball players, highlighting the impact of psychological factors such as resilience, focus, and confidence. Exploring these dynamics, the research aims to propose practical strategies to enhance both the athletic experience and academic achievement, ultimately supporting the holistic development of student-athletes.

Time Management Practices: Its Impact on Student Athletes' Performance

This study determined the time management practices and the performance of student-athletes. Focusing on key aspects such as student-athlete profiles, the level of time management practices, the impact of these practices, factors influencing student-athletes, and the significant relationship between profiles and time management levels, this research utilized a quantitative descriptive design. Employing a purposive random sampling method, the study encompassed 200 student-athlete respondents from the six prestigious GensanPRISAA colleges in General Santos City. Results showed that respondents were predominantly male, aged 21-23, engaged in basketball and team sports, and enrolled as first-year Criminology students with notable academic performance and local competition achievements. Results revealed a high level of time management skills demonstrated by student-athletes in managing both training sessions and academic schedules. These skills significantly influenced academic performance, athletic achievements, social relationships, and personal well-being. Additionally, the study identified various factors affecting time management, including school and teacher demands, athletic commitments, personal priorities, and social relationships. Surprisingly, there was no significant relationship between demographic profiles and time management practices, indicating other influential factors. To address these findings, the study suggested Enhancing the Student-Athlete Development Program to comprehensively support student-athletes in improving time management skills across different domains. In conclusion, the study emphasized the importance of time management skills among student-athletes and advocated for tailored support programs to foster their holistic development, regardless of demographic characteristics.

Trait Courage, Attachment to God, and Mental Well-Being Among U.S. Collegiate Athletes.

In recent decades, scholars and practitioners alike have devoted increased attention to the psychological well-being of student-athletes. However, to date, far less research has examined the role of virtues, religion, and spirituality in contributing to well-being in student-athlete populations. In this study, we attempt to address these gaps by (a) assessing the association between trait courage, an understudied virtue in the sporting realm, and mental well-being, and then (b) considering how student-athletes' attachment to God might moderate the association between trait courage and depressive symptoms. Drawing on a sample of 415 student-athletes from the USA, regression results illustrate that courage was not significantly associated with lower depressive symptoms among student-athletes. However, a secure attachment to God appeared to function as a compensatory resource for student-athletes lacking in courage. On the contrary, athletes with low trait courage but who reported greater avoidant attachment to God reported greater depressive symptoms. Taken together, a more positive relationship with God could help provide athletes with lower trait courage a way to find meaning and strength that helps them with emotion-regulation strategies to deal with the pressures within and beyond their sport. This study clearly shows that greater attention should be paid to the religious and spiritual development of student-athletes.

Cooperative Learning on Sports Confidence among Students of Baseball Elective

Cooperative learning emphasizes collaboration, shared problem-solving, and communal knowledge, positing that learning in groups enhances understanding and practical application. This study aimed to explore the correlation between cooperative learning in a baseball elective and the sports confidence of 208 surveyed students. The findings indicated strong agreements in domains of Positive Interdependence, Interpersonal Skills, and Reflective Group Processing, with slightly lower agreement in Individual Accountability. Holistic Development emerged as the highest indicator of sports confidence, while Performance Assurance was lower, yet all were within agreeable ranges. The study recommends the "Team Synergy: Enhancing Sports Confidence through Cooperative Learning" program, aiming to blend cooperative learning strategies into sports training, thereby bolstering sports confidence and fostering a holistic development of student-athletes.

A Longitudinal Mixed Methods Case Study Investigation of the Academic, Athletic, Psychosocial and Psychological Impacts of Being a Sport School Student Athlete

BackgroundSport schools are popular environments for simultaneously delivering education and sport to young people. Previous research suggests sport school involvement to have impact (i.e. the positive/negative, intended/unintended and long/short-term outcomes, results and effects) on student athlete’s holistic (i.e. academic, athletic, psychosocial and psychological) development. However, previous research is limited by (1) cross-sectional methods, (2) limited multidimensional assessments, (3) lack of consideration for athlete characteristics (e.g. sex) and (4) failure to evaluate how sport school features affect student-athlete impacts.ObjectivesThe study, using a mixed methods case study approach, aims to (1) longitudinally evaluate the impact of sport school involvement on the holistic development of student athletes, (2) evaluate the impact on holistic development by student-athlete characteristics and (3) explore the features and processes of the sport–school programme that drive/facilitate holistic impacts.MethodsA longitudinal mixed methods design was employed across one full academic school year (33 weeks). Six data-collection methods (i.e. online questionnaire, physical fitness testing battery, academic assessment grades, log diaries, field notes/observation and timeline diagram/illustration) were used to assess the academic, athletic, psychosocial and psychological impacts for 72 student athletes from one sport school in the United Kingdom (UK).ResultsStudent athletes developed positive long-term holistic overall impacts (i.e. academically, athletically and personally), including maintaining stable and relatively high levels of sport confidence, academic motivation, general recovery, life skills, resilience and friends, family and free time scores. Despite positive impacts, juggling academic and sport workload posed challenges for student athletes, having the potential to lead to negative holistic impacts (e.g. fatigue, stress and injury). Positive and negative impacts were linked to many potential features and processes of the sport school (e.g. academic and athletic support services versus insufficient training load build-up, communication, coordination, flexibility and planning). Furthermore, when considering student-athlete characteristics, females had lower sport confidence, higher general stress and body image concerns and less general recovery than males and student athletes who played sport outside the school had lower general recovery.ConclusionsThis mixed method, longitudinal study demonstrated sport school involvement resulted in many positive academic (e.g. good grades), athletic (e.g. fitness development), psychosocial (e.g. enhanced confidence) and psychological (e.g. improved resilience) impacts attributed to the academic and athletic support services provided. However, juggling heavy academic and athletic workloads posed challenges leading to negative impacts including fatigue, pressure, stress and injury. Furthermore, holistic impacts may be sex dependent and further support may be required for female student athletes in sport school environments. Overall, these findings demonstrate the complex nature of combining education and sport commitments and how sport schools should manage, monitor and evaluate the features of their programme to maximise the holistic impacts of sport–school student athletes.

Dual sport career experiences of student-athletes studying in South Africa and the USA

Background: Institutions of higher education are hubs for student-athletes pursuing dual careers, in sports and higher education. The concepts of dual careers, transition models and support systems for student sports provide the conceptual framework for this study.Objectives: The study investigated the dual sports career experiences of South African track and field student-athletes who studied at universities in South Africa and the United States of America (USA). Objectives determined satisfaction in terms of student-athlete support systems in their chosen localities.Method: This qualitative study used a purposive sample of 12 participants from a general population of South African junior track and field athletes who pursued dual careers. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews.Results: The respondents found the US National Association Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports system superior to the South African sports system. The dual-career student-athletes transitioning through the last two stages of the South African Long-Term Athlete Development model reported a lack of support that negatively impacted the success of their dual career balance.Conclusion: The South African context of student sport is not generally conducive to creating and enabling a dual sports–academic career environment because of insufficient contextual, processional and sports-specific factors. The participants perceived the NCAA system of student sport as holistic and supportive of their dual-career development.Contribution: This study adds to the limited pool of knowledge relating to the dual-career development of student-athletes, and provides a base line for future research studies.

Modes and challenges in sports talent identification at senior high schools in Upper East Region, Ghana

Although there are athletic programmes at the senior high schools in the Upper East Region, the question is whether there are certain institutionalised programmes that help identify athletic talent and facilitate the development of student-athletes to the top of their athletic careers. This study was aimed at examining modes and challenges in sports talent identification in Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the Upper East Region (UER) of Ghana. In this cross-sectional study, 203 sports coaches (100 men and 80 women sports coaches) in SHSs in the UER participated in the investigation. These group of individuals were chosen for the investigation since the core responsibility of identifying and developing sports talents lies with them. Data was collected using a questionnaire from which generalisation could be made about modes and challenges in sports talent identification. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were calculated using SPSS version 25 (data analysis software). The results of the study revealed that the common mode of identifying talented student-athletes was through observation by coaches (90.6%). Also, limited financial resources (82.3%), judging coaches’ competence by their teams’ performance in competitions (73.9%), and early talent identification (69.0%) were identified as major challenges in sports talent identification. In conclusion, most coaches employ the natural selection method in identifying sports talents, therefore, many sports talents in Senior High Schools in Upper East Region are over looked because they are not currently participating in the sports. Adequate financial resources are not allocated for sports talent identification in SHSs in the UER and much focus is placed on winning SHS competitions to the detriment of recognizing the potential for future success in sports performance among student-athletes.

The role of sport coaches on student-athletes’ life skills development and transfer: Using multilevel model analysis

A structured sport environment is known to provide adequate conditions for the development and transfer of student-athletes’ life skills. However, recent research not only emphasizes the environment but also argues that the intentional effort of coaches such as life skills coaching is important. This study examines the role of coaches’ life skills coaching on the development and transfer of athletes’ life skills using a multilevel model. A total of 28 high school athletic teams (28 coaches, 291 student-athletes) were recruited to participate in the study, using cluster sampling. The life skills coaching of Level 2 (coaches) in sports were measured using the Korean version of the Coaching Life Skills in Sport Questionnaire (CLSS-Q). The life skills of the student-athletes at Level 1 were measured using the Life Skills Scale for Student-Athletes (LSSSA) and Korean version of Life Skills Transfer Survey (LSTS). Multilevel model analysis was conducted to analyze dyadic data. The result of analysis showed that three hypotheses were supported. Specifically, life skills development of student-athletes affected life skills transfer (Hypothesis 1), life skills coaching affected student-athletes’ life skills transfer (Hypothesis 2), and the interaction effect between life skills coaching and development affected life skills transfer of student-athletes (Hypothesis 3). We conclude that coaches should use intentional life skills coaching strategies to maximize student-athlete life skills development and transfer to daily life.

Mental health training for high school coaches and athletic directors: Community-based participatory research to Coach Beyond

Training to improve high school sport coaches’ and athletic directors’ knowledge, skills, and competencies to address and respond to rising mental health concerns is more important than ever. High school student-athletes are at increased risk for mental health concerns, given the pressures of balancing sport, school, and other responsibilities. This paper describes a community-based participatory research (CBPR) study that guided two years of public impact and social change efforts to improve coach education and training in one large Midwestern state in the United States. Our collective goal was to empower coaches and athletic directors to coach “beyond the Xs and Os.” Using a CBPR framework, we describe the decision-making process that led to the co-development and implementation of a mental health training program piloted with 147 high school coaches and athletic directors. We also describe intermediate outcomes associated with our collective change efforts demonstrating the value of using a CBPR approach. Our “Coach Beyond” processes and outputs showcase how CBPR can lead to transformative action and social change to reorient sport as a context focused on the holistic health, wellness, and development of student-athletes.

A Holistic Analysis of Team Dynamics Using Relational Coordination as the Measure regarding Student Athlete Total Load: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Despite its small population, Norway wins a disproportionately large number of medals in international competitions. Therefore, it has been thought that the Norwegian sports model and sports school programs are influential in developing young Norwegian athletes to achieve such results. Today, more than 110 Norwegian private and public schools offer the elite sports program in Norway. Most student athletes attending those schools combine their high school education with elite sports, where they attend training sessions at both school and clubs. The number of people involved with the student athlete on a daily basis (i.e., other student athletes, club coaches, school coaches, schoolteachers, parents, and health personnel) indicate the importance of optimal communication and coordination. However, to the authors' knowledge, no previous studies have explored communication and coordination among this population group. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to use a holistic analysis of team dynamics using the Relational Coordination Survey as a measure to explore the relational coordination within and between student athletes, club coaches, and school coaches. A secondary objective of this study was to explore student athletes', club coaches', and school coaches' relational coordination with schoolteachers, parents, and health personnel. In addition, the study aimed to explore differences in student athletes' relational coordination with their significant others according to sport, school, performance level, sex, and school year. The quality of relational coordination was measured by a cross-sectional questionnaire of student athletes (n = 345), club coaches (n = 42), and school coaches (n = 25) concerning training load and life load. Multiple one-way analyses of variance were used to assess differences between groups. The results show that student athletes, club coaches, and school coaches perceived moderate to weak relational coordination with parents, schoolteachers, and health personnel. Student athletes' relational coordination score with parents was the only strong score observed. Furthermore, the results reveal notable differences in student athletes' relational coordination with the roles according to their characteristics. The findings suggest a potential for enhancing relationships and communication within and between the significant roles involved with student athletes. The results further indicate that those involved with the student athlete should consider a holistic approach to enhance communication and coordination, including physical, psychological, and other life factors, for optimal student athlete management and development. More resources are necessary to facilitate effective communication and coordination regarding the student athlete's total load.

Symptoms of depression and anxiety among elite high school student-athletes in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic: A repeated cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated numerous changes in daily life, including the cancellation and restriction of sports globally. Because sports participation contributes positively to the development of student-athletes, restricting these activities may have led to long-term mental health changes in this population. Using a repeated cross-sectional study design, we measured rates of depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 and anxiety using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 scale in student-athletes attending elite sport high schools in Sweden during the second wave of the pandemic (February 2021; n = 7021) and after all restrictions were lifted (February 2022; n = 6228). Depression among student-athletes decreased from 19.8% in 2021 to 17.8% in 2022 (p = .008, V = .026), while anxiety screening did not change significantly (17.4% to 18.4%, p > .05). Comparisons between classes across years revealed older students exhibited decreases in depressive symptoms, while younger cohorts experienced increases in symptoms of anxiety from 2021 to 2022. Logistic regressions revealed that being female, reporting poorer mental health due to COVID-19, and excessive worry over one’s career in sports were significant predictors of both depression and anxiety screenings in 2022. Compared to times when sports participation was limited, the lifting of restrictions was associated with overall reduced levels of depression, but not anxiety.

The effect of the combined self-talk and mental imagery program on the badminton motor skills and self-confidence of youth beginner student-athletes

BackgroundThe psychological strategies of self-talk (S.T.) and mental imagery (MI) have an essential role in training and sports performance, but their implementation, particularly in combination, is still limited. This study aimed to examine badminton motor skills (BMS) and self-confidence (S.C.) mastery after a psychological strategy intervention of S.T. and MI, which were integrated into the BMS training process in both independent and interactive functions. The S.T. strategy consisted of instructional (I-S.T.) and motivational (M-S.T.) functions, while the MI consisted of cognitive (C-MI) and motivational (M-MI) aspects.MethodsEighty youth beginner badminton student-athletes aged 10–12 years (male = 40, female = 40) were divided through a disproportional stratified sampling into four experimental groups (EG: 2-function S.T. × 2-function MI) and one control group (CG). The intervention program lasted eight weeks (three meetings a week for a total of 24 meetings). The participants completed a fidelity check at each session. At the end of the intervention, they took a BMS test and completed a self-confidence scale.ResultsThe S.T. and MI strategies had a significant effect on BMS and S.C. mastery (independent and interaction functions) in multivariate and univariate ways; however, independently, they had no significant effect on S.C. The effect of I-S.T. > M-S.T. and the effect of C-MI > M-MI on BMS, but there was no difference in S.C. In the I-S.T. condition, the C-MI and M-MI strategies did not have a different interaction effect on BMS mastery, but the effect of M-MI > C-MI on S.C. In the M-S.T. condition, the effect of C-MI > M-MI on the BMS and S.C. mastery. In the C-MI condition, the I-S.T. and M-S.T. strategies did not have a different interaction effect on BMS mastery, but the effect of M-S.T. > I-ST on S.C. In the M-MI condition, the effect of I-S.T. > M-S.T. on the BMS and S.C. mastery.ConclusionThe results of this study contribute to the existing evidence on the effectiveness of S.T. and MI strategies in the motor skill mastery and psychological skill development of beginner student-athletes. Thus, S.T. and MI strategies can be adapted as psychological strategies that coaches and physical educators can use to improve beginner student-athlete learning, sports performance, and psychological skills.

A Case Study of Applying a Capacity Building Program to Sport Life Skill Leaders

PURPOSE This study aimed to apply a capacity building program to sport life skill leaders and to provide cases of this process. METHODS The study participants included four leaders (male=2, female= 2, <i>M</i><sub>age</sub>=37.5) who were managing a sport life skills program at a university. They participated in a capacity building program, which consisted of (a) understanding (leader seminar), (b) application (managing the sport life skills program), and (c) evaluation (leader’s self-reflection), which were conducted in eight sessions. Four leaders conducted self-evaluations using program quality assessment (PQA) during every session, and quantitative and qualitative data were collected. Qualitative data were derived using a cross-case analysis, and quantitative data were used for calculating the effect size after performing the paired t-test. RESULTS Analyzing the reported cases of sport life skill leaders, the use value of the capacity building program was identified. Furthermore, the cases reported by the four leaders enabled observation of how the leader’s capabilities were strengthened. In the paired t-test, the effect size of physical and psychological safety, appropriate structure, supportive relationship, opportunities to belong, support for efficacy mattering, opportunities for life skill building, excluding integration of family, school, and community effort, were all significant. All effect sizes were found to have “very large effects.” CONCLUSIONS The capacity building program played a positive role in strengthening the leaders’ life skill coaching capabilities. These findings have practical implications—chiefly, it is important to strengthen leaders’ or coaches’ capabilities in order to foster life skill development and transfer of student-athletes.

The role of special program in sports in the athletic activities and performance of student-athletes in physical education

The role of sports in education has been very evident across various educational institutions. Based on the previously conducted studies, it has been recognized as a builder of solid intellect for students. However, only a few investigations were found concerning the role of SPS in the development of student-athletes’ athletic activities and performance in Physical education in a local setting here in the Philippines; hence, the conduct of the study regarding this matter is highly recommended. In connection to this, the present study aims to determine the role of the Special Program in Sports (SPS) in the athletic activities and performance of student-athletes in physical education. This study utilized a self-made questionnaire where inputs were taken from the related literature and studies reviewed and adapted to the Coaching Behavior Scale for Sport (CBS-S). Moreover, part of the questionnaire dealt with the coaching commitment and physical development of student-athletes involving the 4Cs (caring, character, competence, and connection). Descriptive and regression analyses were utilized to interpret data gathered from the respondents. The results have shown that the level of SPS was found to be very high in terms of instructor/coach, sports event, sports facilities, and training schedule. Also, the level of athletic activities was reported as high concerning training performance, regular sports participation, and health status, and very high in regards to theoretical knowledge, athletic potential, focus and discipline, resiliency and humility, and harmony and unity. SPS has been found to have no significant effect on the athletic activities and performance of student-athletes. Recommendations for the improvement of coaches and student-athletes, and future research to support the findings of this study are presented.

A case study of the features and holistic athlete impacts of a UK sports-friendly school: Student-athlete, coach and teacher perspectives.

In order to understand the features of sport schools and their impacts on the holistic development of student-athletes, it is important to take into account the voice of multiple stakeholders central to the programmes (student-athletes, coaches, teachers). Through a case-study approach, using five focus groups, with 19 student-athletes, and six semi-structured interviews with three coaches and three dual coach and teachers, this study explored the perceived impacts of one sport-friendly school (pseudonym-"Salkeld High") on holistic athlete development and the features that drove these impacts. Using a critical realist approach to thematic analysis, findings indicated a multitude of immediate, intermediate and long-term positive and negative impacts associated with academic/vocational (e.g., academic security vs. second/third choice university), athletic/physical (e.g., performance development vs. injuries), psychosocial (e.g., social skills vs. social scarifies) and psychological (e.g., sport confidence vs. performance pressure) development of "Salkeld High" student-athletes. Overall, "Salkeld High" was viewed as an integrated school environment for sport, academics, and boarding, where academic (e.g., extra-tutoring), athletic (e.g., high volume/frequency of training), and psychosocial/psychological (e.g., pastoral services) features are all in one location. The student-athletes tended to get a well-rounded, balanced holistic experience. However, the intensified and challenging nature of involvement did present some negative impacts that stakeholders should be aware of when designing, implementing, and evaluating sport-friendly school programmes. Furthermore, although "Salkeld High" was seen as an integrated environment within the school, it could do better at collaborating with wider sporting structures.

Leading Student-Athletes to Success Beyond the Field: Assessing the Role of Leadership in Adopting High Impact Practices in Intercollegiate Athletics

Given the current culture and climate on college campuses, it is imperative that all students have the opportunity to participate in deep learning experiences, impacting their time on campus and preparing them for their impending transition into the workforce. While high impact practices (HIPs) are readily available, and encouraged, to the majority of the student population, it can be difficult for student-athletes to partake in such endeavors. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the role that leadership plays in the integration (or lack thereof) of HIPs into the student-athlete development process. Through semi-structured, phenomenological interviews with 21 staff members (administration, coaching, academics) of a mid-major Division I intercollegiate athletic program, the researchers were able to further understand the impact of leadership on HIPs in intercollegiate athletics. With this, three primary themes, with multiple sub-themes, emerged. These include Resources, Messaging, and Relationships. While there was a mix of positive and negative aspects of each theme, the general idea was that without a university directive, or a transformational leader, this type of pursuit would not be an overarching priority. Both theoretical and practical implications, as well as recommendations, are discussed.

Coaching commitment and physical development of student-athletes from various public schools in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines

This present study aims to determine the relationship between coaching commitment and physical development of student-athletes from various public schools in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines. Respondents on the study are student-athletes from Senior High School Public Schools from Grade 11 and 12. Descriptive statistics such as Mean and Standard Deviation were used to describe the level of coaching commitment and physical development according to categories, and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to determine the relationship between coaching commitment and physical development. The findings revealed that the level of coaching commitment is very high and the level of physical development of the respondents is highly developed. From the correlational analysis, result findings revealed that competition strategies, goal setting, physical training and condition, teamwork, technical skills, and time management were observed to have no significant relationship to caring, character, competence, confidence, and connection of the respondents. On one hand, mental preparation was observed to have a significant negative relationship on caring. Additionally, Personal Rapport/ Negative Personal Rapport were observed to have a significant positive relationship on Caring, Character and Connection.

Student-athletes’ dual career as a psychological and educational phenomenon

Introduction. The article analyzes psychological and educational aspects of dual career development for student-athletes. The purpose of the research is to summarize modern ideas about the phenomenon of a dual career pathway, to expand and deepen the knowledge of practitioners providing psychological and educational support for student-athletes. Materials and Methods. By adopting prospective and scientific approaches to studying dual career development of student-athletes, the authors analyzed 45 articles from 250 selected sources on the problem, published on the Web of Science search platform from 2017 to 2021. The keywords for the search engine included the following: ‘mental health’, ‘dual career’, ‘student’ and ‘sport’. In accordance with the research goal, the authors used the following theoretical methods: comparison, clarification and generalization. Results. The study clarifies the content of dual career as a psychological and educational phenomenon in children's and youth sports. The authors have analyzed Russian and international research evidence on supporting dual careers of student-athletes, investigated variants of the structure of dual career support programs, taking into account the socio-cultural component in the development of national scales for evaluating the effectiveness of student-athletes’ dual careers. Contradictions between conceptual approaches to arranging dual careers in the studies of Western European and Eastern European researchers have been revealed. The authors identified different levels of interrelated determinants (from the individual to the macro level) affecting student-athletes’ dual career development. Conclusions. Although the theory of dual career pathway is sufficiently developed in the international scholarly literature, there are significant differences between conceptual approaches to organizing a dual career in different countries. The main difference lies in the content of educational programs for student-athletes, especially their psychological and educational components. The orientation towards basic values (artistic and aesthetic education, respect for the opponent, ‘team spirit’ and others) is characteristic for Russia and Eastern countries, while the technocratic approach and the dominant role of commercialization in the training of student-athletes are emphasized in the USA and Western countries.