Understanding the differences in U.S. NCAA Division I coaches and athletes’ preferences on time demands measures

Abstract

AbstractGuided by Pondy Bureaucratic Model of Organizational Conflict, this study explored the differences between coaches and student-athletes in their preferences in five categories of time demands measures, namely Countable Athletically Related Activities (CARA), Competition Time Demands, Out of Season Time Demands, Academics, and Travel. It utilised the results of the United States (U.S.) NCAA Division I time demands survey conducted in Spring 2016. Using a team-level unit of analysis, the total sample was composed of 76 sports/teams. Team position (athletes vs coaches) was found to significantly influence all five time demands measures, with coaches more supportive than the athletes. These results suggest that athletes seek more control of their own time and do not support measures that allow for less control. Findings also reflect that time expectancies are an issue that contradicts the NCAA value system and exposes an organizational conflict involving the coaches and the athletes.

Keywords

• NCAA
• college coaches
• student-athletes
• time demands
• organizational conflict
• Sociology of Sport; Sports Policy; Coaching Practice; Sports Management