Correlation Between Upperclassmen Leadership and Player Retention Rate in NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a correlation between the number of designated upperclassmen leaders on an NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball team and the program’s student-athlete retention rate. The participants were fifteen coaches at Division III colleges and universities in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Each coach was asked to disclose the number of designated upperclassmen leaders on each of their teams from 2015 to 2018. This data was then compared to each program’s retention rate from 2016 to 2019. It was found that there was no correlation between the variables (r = -.011, p > .05). Thus, the null hypothesis was accepted. Future research should continue to focus on athletic programs’ retention rates, with concentration on related areas of possible influence.