The factors that head football coaches at NCAA Division IA universities use to evaluate a potential athlete during the recruiting process

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Authors
Baldwin, Brent T.
Advisor
Issue Date
1999
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (M.A.)
Department
School of Physical Education
Other Identifiers
Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that head football coaches at NCAA Division IA universities use to evaluate a potential athlete during the recruiting process and to determine which factors they identify as the most important and least important in the evaluation process to predict if an athlete will be successful at the college level.All 112 Division IA schools were possible subjects for this research. The subjects were randomly selected to ensure each school had the same chance of being selected. Surveys were then sent to the 30 Division IA head football coaches that were randomly selected. Of the 21 surveys returned, 19 of them were deemed usable. The surveys revealed that division IA head football coaches felt that physical ability was the most important aspect of the overall evaluation process. Of the different areas of the surveys regarding physical ability, character traits, and academics, coaches labeled speed, competitiveness, and grade point average as the most important factors. The least important factors were mental alertness, self control and self discipline, and rank in class.The survey results suggest that all aspects of recruiting are very important, although some areas tend to be more important to most coaches who are trying to develop a successful football program.

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