Presentation
From the Field to the Lab: Integrating Soccer Coach and Player Experience in Academic Mentorship
SessionPoster Session 1
DescriptionThis paper presents a framework for academic mentorship in human factors education derived from soccer coaching and playing experiences. Drawing on autoethnographic analysis from both a USSF-licensed youth coach and former NCAA Division I player, we identify five principles that translate effectively to developing human factors researchers: Reality-Based Decision Making, Resilience and Growth Mindset, Contextual Skill Application, Progressive Engagement, and Holistic Development. These principles build on established educational theories while providing a uniquely accessible implementation lens through soccer's immediate feedback loops, visible metrics, and structured team environment—characteristics often lacking in academic settings. For each principle, we outline specific soccer contexts, academic transfer mechanisms, and implementation guidelines for human factors education. The framework addresses key challenges in developing systems thinking abilities and human-centered design competencies by emphasizing experiential learning, contextual skill development, and collaborative approaches. While our autoethnographic approach has limitations, this work establishes a foundation for rethinking how mentors can prepare human factors students for complex sociotechnical analysis through structured yet engaging approaches. Soccer offers distinct advantages as an educational analogy, though other collaborative activities could provide complementary insights for future exploration of interdisciplinary skill development in human factors education.
Event Type
Poster
TimeTuesday, October 14th5:30pm - 6:30pm CDT
LocationRiverside East
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