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Thesis
Why non-scholarship works: a review of recruitment practices in the Ivy League athletic conference
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Jun 2011
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-4115
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analyze the recruitment processes that several different coaches in the Ivy League Athletic Conference undergo each year to determine how recruitment is affected by the lack of athletic scholarships. More specifically, the purpose of the research was to (1) explore the tactics behind the athletic recruitment process in the Ivy League, (2) determine the rationale of athletes in choosing to play for the Ivy league, and (3) to ascertain the functions (if any) of need based aid in the non-scholarship athletic arena. In order to gain a better understanding into specific recruitment processes, five coaches from the Ivy League were interviewed and asked a battery of questions to guide their explanations. Such questions were formulated to help narrow the recruitment focus to the lack of athletic scholarships within the league and how this altered their process as well as the types of athletes that they target. These questions were also used to help make overall conclusions about how lacking athletic scholarships effect the conference as a whole, while attempting to remain competitive with its scholarship counterparts. After research, a consensus was shown that coaches do not believe that the non-scholarship aspect of their conference hinders their ability to attract top-level athletes in their respective sport. They also feel that it does not greatly alter their recruitment process, nor the athletes that they wish to pursue. An overwhelming majority of coaches interviewed expressed little to no competition from conferences offering athletic scholarships, to the extent that they do not feel threatened by competing offers from such schools. Additionally, coaches expressed slight admiration towards the need-based aid system for it helps to "weed out" the wrong type of student-athlete not well suited to represent the Ivy League. While this study primarily focused on coaches in the Ivy League Athletic Conference, further research questioning student-athletes would prove helpful in painting a more complete picture of this specific recruitment. Student-athletes would be able to give more specific details of when they were going through the process and how the lack of scholarship affected their decision making to ultimately choose the Ivy League. In addition, conducting interviews with coaches from conferences that offer athletic scholarships would be helpful to the research to give an alternate view of recruitment and an opposing view on the aspect of scholarships for student-athletes.
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Details
- Title
- Why non-scholarship works: a review of recruitment practices in the Ivy League athletic conference
- Creators
- Jessica Gotlieb - DU
- Contributors
- Amy Giddings (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Bennett S. LeBow College of Business; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 4115; 991014632180604721