"The whole soccer package": women's transitions into Division I college soccer

The purpose of this study is to explore how incoming freshmen on the womens soccer team at a Division I university perceived and negotiated the transition from high school to college during their first semester. To date, athletes transitions to college have received little attention from the academic community. In-depth interviews were conducted in the spring of athletes first year and were informed by observation and participant journaling during their fall semester. Due to preseason training, which takes place before classes begin, and little coursework at the opening of the academic term, soccer developed as participants priority. School became important only after students realized dedication to coursework was necessary to achieve their desired performance in classes. Due to the required commitment to sport, participants viewed participation as both beneficial and detrimental to college experiences such as independence, self-development, maturation, and social engagement.