An Exploration Of The Peer Group Mentoring Experiences Of University Female Basketball Athletes

Peer group mentoring is a dynamic, relational learning experience. In this paper, the authors explore the lived experiences of seven peer group mentoring participants - representing three different peer mentoring groups. All seven participants were NCAA Division III female basketball athletes on the same team at the same institution in a northeast urban environment. Qualitative interviewing captured detailed descriptions and thematic analysis was utilized to investigate the narrative data from in-person interviews. Findings suggest that this peer group mentoring experience (a) provided important support and encouragement, (b) cultivated synergistic relationships, and (c) established a vital space for dialogue.