ABSTRACT
Increases in sexual misconduct charges brought against college athletes and athletic programs have created a public relations crisis for the NCAA. Lack of timeliness, proper reporting, investigation, and appropriate resolution of sexual assault incidents has created negative public perceptions of college athletics and, more importantly, likely failed to properly meet the standards of gender equality in higher education. The NCAA does not possess the legal authority to bring criminal charges or levy punishments for crimes. Yet, it does possess the financial means to address these issues. An Independent Accountability Administration is proposed. This third-party entity would improve the NCAA's processes in resolving these issues by authorizing with the responsibility and power to effectively handle claims of sexual violence and harassment involving college athletes from inception to resolution, as well as foster a more appropriate culture of gender equality by emphasizing prevention education while also allowing for due process.
ABSTRACT
Coaches are key stakeholders involved in creating a climate in which athletes’ mental toughness (MT) can be developed. Although Master Strength and Conditioning Coaches (MSCC) spend a substantial amount of time working with US collegiate athletes, no studies have investigated this elite group of professionals’ opinions about MT. Using a multiphase mixed-method design (Phase 1, N = 71; Phase 2, N = 28), this study explored MSCCs’ perspectives on the conceptualization, measurement, and training of MT. MSCCs value MT highly and believe that it plays an important role in competitive sports. However, a majority of the participants were uncertain about what constitutes MT. Although MSCCs primarily used anecdotally-based physical protocols to develop athletes’ MT, they rarely assessed the effectiveness of those training approaches using psychometrically-sound instruments. MSCCs highlighted the need to prioritize evidence-based MT training protocols. Resources are required to educate MSCCs and support their work on MT development.