NEWS AND TIPS

The authors conducted a preliminary study, which asked if social worker support could aid elite level hockey players during the recruitment process to higher levels of play. The intent was to determine the potential need for professional social workers in sports, and particularly in areas where athletes and their families may face critical decisions regarding the future. Respondents answered questions about the recruiting process, what difficulties or successes they met, and if a social worker could have made the process more constructive and positive for the athlete. Twenty-one current and former hockey players participated, and their responses, collected through convenience sampling, regarding their experiences during the recruitment process make up this study. The research population included former collegiate or professional hockey players recruited to play at college, Major Jr. A, or professional leagues. All participants agreed that partnering with a someone in a helping capacity, such as a social worker, would have helped them navigate the various pitfalls and obstacles of the recruitment process, and would have been valuable allies and supports during their decision-making period. Implications for practice as well as suggestions for future study are offered for review.