Identity Development Among Black Male Football Student-Athletes and Their Ability to Recover From Unmet Athletic Aspirations

Abstract

This qualitative research study aimed to analyze the psychological and social aspects of Black male football student-athletes’ identity development and how that affects their ability to transition to life after sports and unmet athletic aspirations. The overall purpose of this study is to examine varying identity development roles and their influences on the transition out of sports among NCAA Power Five Division I African American male football players. This study highlighted the lived experience of five NCAA Division I Black male football student-athletes, allowing their experiences and the resulting phenomena to lead the way. Participants in this study were chosen through purposeful sampling and snowball sampling methods. This study provides a qualitative analysis of these five participants by way of a semi-structured interview process to investigate their personal experiences in their upbringing, journey through college, before their eventual transition out of sport. Once the data was collected, it was then coded and analyzed to allow for a number of themes to arise. Upon completion of the coding process, five themes emerged in alignment with the research questions and were explored in detail within this study: 1) Where it all started, 2) Athlete-student to National Football League (NFL), 3) ‘I am Black.’ However…, 4) Relationships Matter, and 5) Is It Over Yet? Findings within this study are consistent with previous research done on Black student-athletes experiences at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs), racial identity formation, athletic identity formation, and the important role coaches play in the student-athletes lives. Finally, recommendations based on the research performed in this study are offered and presented in such a way as to provide meaningful and thoughtful ways to help support Black male football student-athletes in the most positive ways with hopes to aid in their success.