Talent migration in NCAA division I tennis: an exploratory study

ABSTRACT

The recruitment of international-student athletes (ISAs) to NCAA schools in the United States has been a feature of intercollegiate athletics since the late 1940’s and an influx of foreign-born athletes became evident from the late 1960s and through the 1970s. More recently, the number of ISAs increased drastically from the 1990s to the 2000s and this growth trend has continued. Similar to previous research on migration patterns of ISAs in NCAA basketball and soccer, the purpose of this study was to explore talent migration in NCAA Division I (DI) tennis. The authors incorporate discussions on globalization and world-system theory to explicate global sport labor migration and analyze descriptive player and coach data to understand: (1) the extent of ISAs competing in NCAA DI tennis in comparison to other sports; (2) distribution of tennis ISAs across three DI categories and thirty-one conferences; (3) migration patterns of DI tennis ISAs with respect to country and city of origin; and, (4) the percentage of international tennis coaches in DI. Findings indicate tennis has the highest percentage of ISAs among all NCAA sports, ISAs make up the majority of all men’s and women’s tennis players at the DI level, Spain is the top donor nation, and the percentage of international coaches for DI teams is approximately 30%. The authors conclude the paper with commentary informed by veteran DI tennis coaches regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the future of college tennis.

Keywords:

• Labor migration
• college athletics
• tennis
• NCAA
• globalization

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Lise Gregory for her contribution to the data collection and discussion sections of this paper. The authors would also like to thank Dr. Leo Diosdado for his assistance with Figure 1.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 Division I is the highest competitive level within the NCAA, followed by Division II and Division III. The DI level can be further subdivided into additional classifications based on size, competitive level, and revenue. Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) is generally regarded as the highest DI classification, followed by Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and Non-Football schools (or schools that do not field American football teams). The FBS level can be further subdivided into two classifications based on conference affiliation, including ‘Power 5’ and ‘Group of 5’. ‘Power 5’ schools comprise the top competitive level and are associated with high revenue earnings.

2 The annual data provided by the NCAA considers athletes earning financial aid, and therefore it does not include all players on teams’ rosters.

3 There are actually thirty-two NCAA DI conferences. However, one conference (American East Conference) does not offer tennis.

4 A voluntary migration example includes individuals seeking new employment. Examples of involuntary migration include slavery and displacement of native populations.

5 Gregory and Duvenhage have a combined 56 years of head coaching experience. Both are experts in their field and are highly regarded by their peers as evidenced by, but not exclusive of, the following accomplishments and recognitions: Lise Gregory – Head Coach (Florida State University 1996–2004; UNC Asheville 2007-Present); WTA Professional career-high No. 17 in doubles (1990); Australian Open doubles quarterfinalist (1991); 4-time Coach of the Year (Big South 2012, 2009; ACC 1999, 2004); Regional Coach of the Year (FSU 2004); 7-time NCAA All-American; NCAA doubles champion (1986 with Ronni Reis); Tennis Magazine’s All-Star Team (1986,1987); inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame (1999). Ian Duvenhage – Head Coach (University of Miami 1982–88; University of Florida 1989-2001; Vanderbilt University 2005-Present); Wilson Intercollegiate Coach of the Year (1986); 3-time SEC Coach of the Year (1993, 1994, 2000), 3-time Region 3 Coach of the Year (1991, 1999, 2000); Daily Tennis National Coach of the Year (2000); inducted into University of Miami Hall of Fame (2010); Coach of USTA National Collegiate Team (1999, 2001).