Individual and contextual influences on African American collegiate athletes' decision to enter the National Football League.

摘要

Very little is know about the influences and decision making process of African American athletes at Division I institutions. A specific gap in this area is the influences of outside factors and families on collegiate African American football players when making the decision to finish school or enter the National Football League. The purpose of this study was to examine family and outside factor influences on collegiate athletes' decision to complete their education or to enter professional sports from the perspective of the collegiate athlete (football). The sample consisted of five African American collegiate football players from a Division I athletic program and his parent (s). A qualitative interview methodology was applied in this study. Athletes and their family members were interviewed separately.;The results indicated that student-athletes perceive themselves as the individual who has the most power in the decision making process when deciding to stay in school or enter the National Football League draft. Student athletes do consult family members during the decision making process, but they themselves make the final decision.;Student-athletes reported that their draft status was the determining factor when making the decision to enter the National Football League draft or to stay in school.