Date of Award
Spring 2-15-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Kinesiology (EdD)
Department
Kinesiology
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the effectiveness of Athletes in Action’s Ultimate Training Camp (UTC) on the spiritual development of collegiate athletes. The study explored whether the UTC effectively fosters spiritual growth, identified factors that contribute to this development, and analyzed best practices that support athletes’ spiritual development. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with UTC participants representing a variety of sports, universities, and faith backgrounds. Supporting documents, including journal reflections, letters, and social media posts, were also analyzed to triangulate data and provide deeper insight into participants’ experiences. Findings revealed that UTC significantly influenced athletes’ spiritual growth by providing a structured environment where faith, sport, and identity intersected. Key contributing factors included the spiritual community, the S.P.E.C.I.A.L., and the application of five biblical principles through experiential activities such as lab sessions. The results supported the hypothesis that the UTC positively impacts the spiritual development of athletes and identified effective practices that can inform future sport ministry and faith-based leadership programs. These findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge on spiritual formation within athletic contexts and highlight the potential of integrative faith-sport models in higher education.