Does Diversity Matter? The Impact of Coaching Staff and Team Diversity on a Team’s Win Percentage

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of diversity on all-female collegiate soccer teams participating in NCAA Division III 2017 soccer season. The null hypothesis of this study was that diversity among both the coaching staff and the team would not have a significant impact upon the team’s win percentage. The data analyzed was the racial breakdown of both the coaching staff and players from each program, with the qualification that each team played 18 games during the 2017 soccer season. Data was collected from various athletic team websites and logged on a record sheet as data was collected. The data found that the null hypothesis was confirmed. Research regarding the relationship between diversity and athletic teams should continue to be analyzed and improved upon in future studies to then be applied to intercollegiate teams across the country.