Exploring Division-I Student-Athletes’rnMemorable Messages From TheirrnAnticipatory Socialization

摘要

This study explored the socialization of 118 Division-I student-athletes via the topics ofrnmemorable messages that they received prior to their arrival on campus. Ten topics werernidentified (i.e., desirable attitudes, hard work, physical skill or ability, opportunities,rnpride, inclusion, challenges, athletes as symbols, the importance of education, and thernduration of college athletics) using first cycle coding and were subsequently categorizedrnas either addressing the characteristics or experiences of collegiate student-athletes usingrnsecond cycle coding. These findings continue to demonstrate that characteristics andrnexperiences associated with roles are prevalent within athletes’ memorable messages butrnalso highlight the inherent ambiguity and the contradictions regarding how to use thesernmessages and balance the dual roles of being a student-athlete. This study provides arnnovel communicative lens for understanding athlete socialization but underscores thernneed to recognize receivers’ processing and application of memorable messages.