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Virginia Tech

Adults' Perceptions of the Long-Term Effects of Participation in High School Sports

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The long-term effects of participation in high school sports were the focus of this study. Ten top-level managers in Fortune 500 companies were asked about participation in high school sports and the enduring effects of that participation. Five men (one black) and five women (one Asian) participated in the study. Interviewing, observing offices, and reviewing high school yearbooks were the methods of data collection. The data were analyzed using the constant-comparative method of Maykut and Morehouse (1994). Based on the literature and the development of a sports participation theory, data were collected on the organizational and personal variables affecting participation in high school sports, and the sports participation variables affecting later life. Long-term effects of sports participation in high school were identified in 13 areas: (1) being competitive, (2) being goal oriented, (3) being physically active, (4) making friends, (5) developing leadership skills, (6) enhancing self-esteem, (7) displaying sports paraphernalia, (8) practicing sports philosophy, (9) working as a team, (10) acquiring skills not taught in a classroom, (11) managing time, (12) volunteering, and (13) working with diverse groups. These findings may be helpful to school administrators and policy makers as they evaluate the benefits and liabilities of their sports programs.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Ph. D.
Level thesis:degree_level
doctoral
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Department dc:contributor.department
Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2001

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Bechtol, Susan Smith
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Parks, David J.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Christy, William R.
  • Dawson, Christina M.
  • Swecker, Vicki M.
  • Twiford, Travis W.

Subjects

dc:subject × 8

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-04182001-164654
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/26955

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Bechtol, Susan Smith. Adults' Perceptions of the Long-Term Effects of Participation in High School Sports. doctoral thesis, Virginia Tech, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/26955