Is excellence inclusive? The benefits of fostering Black female college athlete's sense of belonging

Abstract

The purpose of this research note is to urge intercollegiate athletic departments and their administrators to foster a sense of belonging amongst Black female college athletes to aid in their felt membership as a college athlete and support their development as viable employment candidates in college sport. Black female college athletes’ graduation rates are on the rise; however, these being hired at dismal rates in college sport. By fostering a sense of belonging, Black female college athletes as a historically marginalized group are able to feel a sense of connectedness in the athletics and greater university environment; athletic departments commit to major organizational change that values diversity and inclusion; and through its commitment, a culture of inclusive excellence is felt by all students, faculty, staff and athletic administrators and coaches. Keywords: Black female college athletes, college sport, intercollegiate athletics, sense of belonging, diversity and inclusion, inclusive excellence

'Race', Ethnicity and Racism in Sports Coaching

“…Yet, through the acknowledgment of race and gender as non-neutral factors that shape everyone's experience in sport, privileging some (Whites) at the expense of the "Other", we continue the work of critical race scholars to promote political and legal changes that lead us closer to racial and gender equality and equity. As many sport scholars including Akilah Carter-Francique and Jacqueline McDowell posit, race and gender need to be at the center of research, policy, and practice if sport is to adequately meet the needs of its student-athletes, employees, sponsors, and consumers (Carter-Francique, 2018;McDowell et al, 2009).…”

“…The statistics also indicate Black college coaches have one opportunity to succeed in their position as few of them are rehired after being fired or relieved of duty (Johnson, 2017). Therefore, the limited access and coaching opportunities for Black men and women also limits their potential ability to serve in administrative capacities as the pool for these positions is often filled from persons in the coaching ranks (Carter-Francique, 2018). While Seebruck & Savage (2014) indicated Black coaches benefitf r o m being on the staff of White head coaches, without Black people gaining social capital to influence hiring and promotion decisions in college athletics, the institutionalized practices of homogenous reproduction will continue (cf., Powell, 2008).…”

“…At the representational level, successful mentoring relationships are linked to internal and external job success (Carter-Francique, 2018). From a structural standpoint, mentoring needs to have a formal professional development role for head coaches and administrators.…”

“…With a growing recognition of diversity in sport in the U.S., more scholarly attention has been given to exploring the coaching experiences for Black people and increasing the quality of these experiences and quantity of their representation (Carter-Francique, 2018;. Extant literature and contemporary realities promote the need for a sociohistorical perspective of the enablers and barriers influencing Black coaches' experiences (Lapchick et al, 2015).…”

Black Mothers and NFL Moms Safety Clinics: An Ethnography of Care in American Football

“…The relevant literature affords important discussions of the experiences of Black female athletes (see, e.g., Carter-Francique, 2018; Cooper et al, 2017; Foster, 2003; Robinson, 2021; Theune, 2016), Black male athletes (see, e.g., Beamon, 2008; Cooper, 2019; Woodbine, 2016; Yearwood, 2018), and athletes who are mothers (see, e.g., Evans et al, 2016; McGannon, et al, 2018; Palmer & Leberman, 2009; Pedersen, 2001). However, what is missing from the overarching narrative about women, athletes, and sport is how moms factor into the lives and experiences of football players, generally, and Black college football players, specifically.…”