Respecting the game: Foreign tours as academic engagement opportunities for intercollegiate student-athletes

ABSTRACT

Intercollegiate student-athletes have few opportunities to participate in high-impact academic engagement opportunities, such as education abroad experiences. In this paper we explore the possibilities of intercollegiate foreign tours as a meaningful academic engagement opportunity for student-athletes. We examine learning outcomes of 31 student-athletes after participating in a one-week foreign tour experience playing baseball and participating in associated educational and cultural activities in Cuba. Data come from one case study that employs three qualitative strands: a pre-trip survey, in-country daily reflections, and a post-trip survey. We use an inductive analytical approach, informed by learning and development theory to examine players’ cognitive, attitudinal, and behavioral development as a result of the foreign tour. Findings indicate that foreign tours that include an educational component may bridge athletics and the academic mission of higher education and can provide a meaningful opportunity for high-impact engagement that student-athletes perceive to be missing from their education.

KEYWORDS:

• Foreign tour
• student-athlete engagement
• education abroad
• intercollegiate athletics
• higher education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kayla M. Johnson

Kayla M. Johnson is an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Policy Studies & Evaluation at the University of Kentucky. Among other issues in international education, her research explores the design, implementation, assessment, and evaluation of international education programming.

Linda Caldwell

Linda Caldwell is emeritus faculty in the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management at the Pennsylvania State University. Her research examines youth development through leisure, leisure and health, and prevention.

Alexander Malinsky

Alexander Malinksy, former men's baseball players for the Pennsylvania State University.

Schuyler Bates

Schuyler Bates, former men's baseball players for the Pennsylvania State University.

Nick Distasio

Nick Distasio, former men's baseball players for the Pennsylvania State University.

Marko Boricich

Marko Boricich, former men's baseball players for the Pennsylvania State University.