Seeing the benefits while trying to manage risk: Exploring coach perceptions and messaging with student-athletes around Fortnite

ABSTRACT This research examined coach perceptions and interaction with student-athletes centered on the video game Fortnite. Semi-structured interviews with 22 student-athletes and 5 coaches at the Division I level in the Southwestern United States were conducted. Utilizing sensemaking theory, coaches reported perceptions about Fortnite as follows: (a) Fortnite as Social Bonding; (b) Fortnite and Health & Academic Performance Effects; (c) Fortnite and Time Management Concerns; (d) Fortnite Reflecting the Contemporary Generation of Student-Athletes; and, (e) Fortnite as a Risk Management Tool. Coach-athlete messaging around Fortnite was explored using memorable messages as a theoretical framework. Results indicated that student-athletes recalled messages about Fortnite in the following ways: (a) Fortnite as Surveillance; and (b) Fortnite and Performance Attributions. The results suggest that coaches need to strategically manage message construction around entertainment media such as video games to avoid negatively impacting their relationship with student-athletes while also needing to manage risks associated with these technologies.