National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Assistant Coaches’ Understanding and Use of Mental Performance and Mental Health Services

in The Sport Psychologist

Click name to view affiliation

Morgan R. Eckenrod School of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA

Search for other papers by Morgan R. Eckenrod in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5577-1636 *
,
Heather Hill School of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA

Search for other papers by Heather Hill in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Melissa Thompson College of Education and Human Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA

Search for other papers by Melissa Thompson in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Laurie A. Neelis School of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA

Search for other papers by Laurie A. Neelis in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
Paul T. Donahue School of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA

Search for other papers by Paul T. Donahue in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2022-0163
Keywords:
psychological services; mental performance consultant; licensed mental health provider; college athletic departments
First Published Online:
14 Jul 2023
In Print:
Volume 37: Issue 3
Page Range:
190–200
Restricted access

Assistant coaches play an important role in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletic departments and spend substantial amounts of time working with student-athletes, yet no research to date has examined their knowledge of mental performance and mental health services. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to learn about NCAA Division I assistant coaches’ understanding and use of mental performance and mental health services. Thirteen assistant coaches employed at universities with at least one mental performance consultant and one licensed mental health provider were interviewed. Thematic analysis procedures were used, and five themes were constructed: (a) day-to-day responsibilities of the assistant coach, (b) needing both mental performance and mental health services, (c) factors influencing understanding of mental performance and mental health services, (d) factors impacting student-athlete utilization of mental performance and mental health services, and (e) confusion between mental performance and mental health services.

  • Collapse
  • Expand

The Sport Psychologist

Cover The Sport Psychologist

  • Arvinen-Barrow, M., & Clement, D. (2015). A preliminary investigation into athletic trainers’ views and experiences of a multidisciplinary team approach to sports injury rehabilitation. Athletic Training and Sports Health Care, 7(3), 97–107. https://doi.org/10.3928/19425864-20150422-05

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Association for Applied Sport Psychology. (n.d.). How to identify the right provider. https://appliedsportpsych.org/site/assets/documents/how-to-identify-the-right-provider.pdf

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Bader, C.M., & Martin, S.B. (2019). Sport psychology considerations in intercollegiate athletics in the United States. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology. Retrieved May 26 2023, from https://oxfordre.com/psychology/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190236557.001.0001/acrefore-9780190236557-e-179

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Barriball, K.L., & While, A. (1994). Collecting data using a semi-structured interview: A discussion paper. Journal of Advanced Nursing-Institutional Subscription, 19(2), 328–335. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.1994.tb01088.x

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Biggin, I.J., Burns, J.H., & Uphill, M. (2017). An investigation of athletes’ and coaches’ perceptions of mental ill-health in elite athletes. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 11(2), 126–147. https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2016-0017

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2019). Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11(4), 589–597. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1628806

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Connole, I.J., Watson, J.C., Shannon, V.R., Wrisberg, C., Etzel, E., & Schimmel, C. (2014). NCAA athletic administrators’ preferred characteristics for sport psychology positions: A consumer market analysis. The Sport Psychologist, 28(4), 406–417. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2013-0096

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Coté, J., & Gilbert, W. (2009). An integrative definition of coaching effectiveness and expertise. International Journal of Sports Sciences and Coaching, 4(3), 307–323. https://doi.org/10.1260/17479540978923892

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Eckenrod, M.R., Shigeno, T.S., Jones, M.S., Zakrajsek, R.A., & Piasecki, P. (2022). Licensed sport psychology professionals’ roles and experiences working in NCAA DI athletic departments. Lecture Presented at the Association for Applied Sport Psychology Conference, Fort Worth, TX.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Fifer, A., Henschen, K., Gould, D., & Ravizza, K. (2008). What works when working with athletes. The Sport Psychologist, 22(3), 356–377. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.22.3.356

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Foulger, T.S. (2010). External conversations: An unexpected discovery about the critical friend in action research inquiries. Action Research, 8(2), 135–152. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476750309351354

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hammick, M., Olckers, L., & Campion-Smith, C. (2009). Learning in interprofessional teams: AMEE Guide no 38. Medical Teacher, 31(1), Article 561. https://doi.org/10.1080/01421590802585561

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hayden, E.W., Kornspan, A.S., Bruback, Z.T., Parent, M.C., & Rodgers, M. (2013). The existence of sport psychology services among NCAA Division I FBS university athletic departments and counseling centers. The Sport Psychologist, 27(3), 296–304. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.27.3.296

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Jones, M., Zakrajsek, R., & Eckenrod, M. (2022). Mental performance and mental health services in NCAA DI athletic departments. Journal for Advancing Sport Psychology in Research, 2(1), 4–18. https://doi.org/10.55743/000010

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Kleigman, J. (2017). College athletes are only starting to get access to the mental health care they need. The Ringer. https://www.theringer.com/2017/10/26/16535274/ncaa-student-athletes-mental-health-care-initiatives

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • LeCompte, M.D., Preissle, J., & Tesch, R. (1993). Evaluating qualitative design. Ethnography and qualitative design in educational research (2nd ed., pp. 315–356). Academic Press.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • McHenry, L.K., Beasley, L., Zakrajsek, R.A., & Hardin, R. (2022). Mental performance and mental health services in sport: A call for interprofessional competence and collaboration. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 36(4), 520–528. https://doi.org/10.1080/13561820.2021.1963218

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Merriam, S.B. (2009). Qualitative research: A guide to design and interpretation. Jossey-Bass.

  • NCAA. (n.d.). Well-being. https://d67oz7qfnvgpz.cloudfront.net/health-and-safety

  • NCAA. (2023). NCAA Division I transformation committee: Final report. https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/committees/d1/transform/Jan2023D1TC_FinalReport.pdf

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • NCAA Sport Science Institute and the NCAA. (2016). Mental health best practices: Interassociation consensus document: Best practices for understanding and supporting student-athlete mental wellness. https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/ssi/mental/SSI_MentalHealthBestPractices.pdf

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Patton, M.Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods. (4th ed.). Sage.

  • Phillippi, J., & Lauderdale, J. (2018). A guide to field notes for qualitative research: Context and conversation. Qualitative Health Research, 28(3), 381–388. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732317697102

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Sharp, L.A., & Hodge, K. (2011). Sport psychology consulting effectiveness: The sport psychology consultant’s perspective. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 23(3), 360–376.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Stringer, E. (1999). Action research. (2nd ed.). Sage.

  • Sudano, L.E., & Miles, C.M. (2017). Mental health services in NCAA Division I athletics: A survey of head ATCs. Sports Health, 9(3), 262–267. https://doi.org/10.1177/1941738116679127

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Tufford, L., & Newman, P. (2012). Bracketing in qualitative research. Qualitative Social Work, 11(1), 80–96. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325010368316

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wrisberg, C.A., Simpson, D., Loberg, L.A., Withycombe, J.L., & Reed, A. (2009). NCAA Division-I student-athletes’ receptivity to mental skills training by sport psychology consultants. The Sport Psychologist, 23(4), 470–486. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.23.4.470

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Zakrajsek, R.A., Martin, S.B., & Wrisberg, C.A. (2015). Sport psychology services in performance settings: NCAA DI certified athletic trainers’ perceptions. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 4(4), 280–292. https://doi.org/10.1037/spy0000042

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Zakrajsek, R.A., Martin, S.B., & Zizzi, S.J. (2011). American high school football coaches’ attitudes toward sport psychology consultation and intentions to use sport psychology services. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 6(3), 461–478. https://doi.org/10.1260/1747-9541.6.3.461

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Zakrajsek, R.A., Raabe, J., Readdy, T., Erdner, S., & Bass, A. (2020). Collegiate assistant coaches’ perceptions of basic psychological need satisfaction and thwarting from head coaches: A qualitative investigation. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 32(1), 28–47. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2019.1581855

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 575 575 84
Full Text Views 429 429 172
PDF Downloads 177 177 40