Factors that influence the college selection process of Division I, II, and III softball players

This study investigated the factors that were influential in the college selection process of NCAA Division I, II and III softball players. It also investigated the differences between the influential factors for student-athletes at Division I small institutions, medium institutions, and large institutions. The participants in this study consisted of 21 teams or 323 female collegiate softball student-athletes and the instrument used was the Influential Factors Survey for Student-Athletes. The top five influential factors were the school offers specific major of interest, academic reputation of college, coach's personality/style, academic facilities (library, computer labs, etc.), and the opportunity to play early in career. The academics section of the survey was deemed most influential by the softball student-athletes in this study. Differences were found within the college selection process of softball student-athletes at Division I, Division II, and Division III institutions (p < .05). Division I student-athletes viewed athletics as more influential than Division II student-athletes. Division II student-athletes viewed academics as more influential than both Division I student-athletes and Division III student-athletes. Division II student-athletes viewed social atmosphere as more influential than Division I student-athletes and also revealed that Division III student-athletes viewed social atmosphere as more influential than Division II student-athletes. Division I student-athletes viewed coaching staff as more influential than Division II student-athletes and Division III student-athletes. Division II student-athletes viewed financial aid as more influential than Division I student-athletes and Division III student-athletes. Differences were also found within the college selection process of softball student-athletes at NCAA Division I small, medium, and large conferences (p < .05). Division I, large school student-athletes viewed athletics as more influential than Division I, medium school student-athletes and Division I, small school student-athletes. Division I, small school student-athletes viewed financial aid as more influential than Division I, large school student-athletes. It can be concluded form the current study that softball student-athletes feel academic factors are the most influential in selecting a college or university to attend.School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise ScienceThesis (M.S.