Sport migration from the UK to the US: The student-athlete experience

ABSTRACT There has been an upward trend of student-athletes migrating to the US (United States) from the United Kingdom (UK). This study focused specifically on elite UK student-athletes’ motivations for migrating to the US and their perceptions of the transition on their athletic development. A qualitative research method was used to facilitate the development of this relatively new area. Three primary reasons for migration were identified: (1) the appealing nature of the recruitment process; (2) US university environment: conducive to athletic development; (3) idealistic expectations of US university experience. Five predominant influencing factors of their athletic development in the US were also identified: (1) nature of the coach-athlete relationship; (2) training demands; (3) exposure to high-level competition; (4) representing the university; (5) perception of sport as their job. Due to this study’s emphasis on sport, the researchers identified two new concepts: multifaceted perceptions of athletic development and positive reframing.