1. CULTURAL PERCEPTIONS BETWEEN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN COLLEGIATE ATHLETES: IMPLICATIONS FOR STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PRACTITIONERS The landscape of collegiate athletics has become more globalized with the recruitment of foreign student athletes. Therefore, trainers and conditioning coaches now have to work with a very diverse population of athletes, which can be a daunting task. Cultural competence is therefore fundamentally important in the area of strength and conditioning. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to communicate the cultural differences that exist between international student athletes and American college athletes when it came to collegiate sport. METHOD: Using a modified version of the Purpose of Sport Questionnaire, both Division III NCAA foreign student athletes and domestic athletes were surveyed amongst seven constructs; Competitiveness, Self-Esteem, Good Citizen, High Status, Mastery/Cooperation, Physically Active Lifestyle, and Social Status. A total of 502 (441 domestic and 61 foreign) student athletes completed the survey which corresponded to a 32.3% response rate. Further, 35% of those surveyed were freshmen, 28 % were sophomores, 21% were juniors and 16 % were seniors. RESULTS: Significant differences were identified in only two of the seven constructs. Domestic student athletes valued good citizen (p =.001) and self-esteem (p =.003) significantly higher than foreign student athletes. However, there were no significant differences in Competitiveness, High Status, Mastery/Cooperation, Physically Active Lifestyle, and Social Status. CONCLUSION: Results show that there are cultural differences in how foreign student athletes and their domestic counterparts view collegiate sport. Good citizen was used to measure the student-athletes’ view of college sports teaching them to be good citizens. The self-esteem construct was used to measure a student athletes’ perception of college sports enhancing their self-esteem. It may be argued that foreign student athletes might not be as motivated as their American counterparts when it comes to collegiate sport. Therefore, the ability to recognize these differences and be able to integrate ethnic and cultural considerations into one’s duties is warranted. Purpose and Significance Conclusion Cornell E. Foo, Ph.D.; George R. Schaefer, Ph.D.; Michael R. Esco, Ph.D. Auburn University Montgomery, AL, USA Background As part of a bigger study that sought to compare the view and purpose of sport between domestic and international student athletes, the purpose of this project was to communicate the cultural differences that exist between international student athletes and American college athletes when it came to collegiate sport. The literature paints a picture that there exist many cultural disparities when it comes to the definition or what sport is and should be. The lack of definitional consensus is not only perpetuated by the individuals themselves but by the institutions that they are recruited to represent. Further research is warranted under this line of inquiry. Culture highlights specific practices and beliefs that foster unique habits of thought and behavior. Cultural competence therefore is the ability to recognize these differences and be able to integrate ethnic and cultural considerations into one’s duties. These results show that there are differences in how foreign student athletes and their domestic counterparts view collegiate sport. Good citizen was used to measure the student-athletes’ view of college sports teaching them to be good citizens. The self-esteem construct was used to measure a student athletes’ perception of college sports enhancing their self-esteem. It may be argued that foreign student athletes might not be as motivated as their American counterparts when it comes to collegiate sport. Practical Applications As prior bodies of research suggests, training and conditioning practitioners must approach their duties not only from a physical standpoint but a cognitive and cultural standpoint as well. Understanding the cultural differences on what constitutes good citizenship may be influential in helping trainers and players better understand their respective roles within competitive environments. Additionally, having a working knowledge of the emotional state of an athlete can prove invaluable when designing respective rehabilitating or conditioning regimes. This line of research may provide important information in regards to designing exercise programs to serve a diverse group of athletes. Abstract References 1. DeHass, D. (2009). 2007-2008 NCAA Student-Athlete Race/Ethnicity Report. Indianapolis, IN: The National Collegiate Athletic Association. 2. Duda, J. L. (1989). Relationship between task and ego orientation and the perceived purpose of sport among high school athletes. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 11, 318-335. 3. Foo, C., & Wells, J. (2011). Perceptions on the Purpose of Sport between NCAA Divisions III and I International and Domestic Student-Athletes. Journal for the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education, 5(3), 181-196. 4. Kutz, M. R. (2010). Leadership and Management in Athletic Training: An Integrated Approach. Philadelphia, PA. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 5. Maguire, J. & Falcous, M. (2010). Sport and migration. Borders, boundaries and crossings: sport, migration and identities. New York, NY. Routledge. Results Methods Participants A total of 502 (441 domestic and 61 foreign) student athletes participated in the study. Of those surveyed, 35% were freshmen, 28 % were sophomores, 21% were juniors and 16 % were seniors. Sixty six percent listed themselves as starters on their respected sport teams. 304 were males and 198 were females. Procedures For the purpose of this study, NCAA Division III collegiate athletes were surveyed using an online method. Domestic collegiate athletes were recruited via a stratified selection process and done through contact with the institution’s Athletic Director and Coaches. International collegiate athletes were then sought through a purposeful selection approach since these participants are usually more difficult to recruit. Initial survey requests were emailed to Athletic Director and Coaches to disseminate to their athletes and then a purposeful process utilized to recruit a representative sample of international student athletes. A follow-up reminder was disseminated two weeks later to all participants. A total of 1,550 NCAA Division III students, both domestic and international were contacted and asked to participate in the study. Overall, 441 Division III domestic and 61 international student-athlete surveys (N=502) were collected from the two collection approaches, combining for a response rate of 32.3%. Analysis Descriptive statistics were calculated and the mean scores and standard deviation for each of the seven factors were compared. Reliability was calculated and Internal consistency was verified for each of the seven factors. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was utilized to compare the view of sport between domestic and international student athletes. Significant differences were identified in only two of the seven constructs. Domestic student athletes valued good citizen (p =.001) and self-esteem (p =.003) significantly higher than foreign student athletes. However, there were no significant differences in Competitiveness, High Status, Mastery/Cooperation, Physically Active Lifestyle, and Social Status. Mean Scores and Standard Deviation Mastery and Cooperation Physically Active Good Citizen ** Competitiveness High Status Self- Esteem ** Social Status ScaleDomestic AthleteInternational Athlete 3.960.6783.82 0.716 M SD Note. Mean scores based on 5-point Likert-type scale and ** p <.01. 3.95 0.678 3.93 0.841 Collegiate athletics has become more globalized with the recruitment of foreign student athletes. Hence, American college campuses have become melting sites for the exchange of cultural ideals, values, beliefs and social norms. This global trend is also evident across the divisions of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA), where the number of foreign athletes representing American colleges and universities has doubled within the last decade. The intricacies with the increased number of foreign student athletes’ means that trainers and conditioning coaches now have to work with a very diverse population of athletes, which can be a daunting task. Cultural competence is therefore fundamentally important in the area of strength and conditioning. The onus now is on those in the profession of strength and conditioning and professional education to ensure trainers acquire a minimum level of understanding of how to deal with diverse populations, and what it means to be culturally competent. Beyond the aforementioned elements, the true challenge would also be to create an environment that fosters a workforce that is equated to the diverse collegiate body. This line of research, while in its infancy stages, can provide important information for practitioners moving forward. Limitations 3.95 0.566 3.680.810 3.93 0.630 3.770.772 3.41 0.700 3.300.722 4.09 0.492 3.890.631 2.40 0.976 2.260.993 Dealing with students from foreign countries creates recruitment challenges for researchers and this was the case with this project. Also, the decision to use athletic directors and coaches to distribute survey requests assisted in decreasing the response rate. Another limitation was that data was collected while the participants we in their competitive seasons and they were possibly unable to dedicate the time required for participation. Methods, cont.