Skip to main content

Mental & Physical Health

The NCAA and its Sport Science Institute support member schools in their effort to make mental and physical health care accessible for all student-athletes, as well as to create a culture where seeking care for mental health is as normal as seeking care for physical health.

Member schools have enshrined in the NCAA Constitution their commitment to facilitating an environment that reinforces mental and physical health within athletics by ensuring access to appropriate resources and open engagement with respect to physical and mental health.

Mental Health
Hazing
Sexual Assault and Interpersonal Violence
Substance Misuse
Cardiac Health
Catastrophic Injury and Illness
Concussions
Infectious Disease
Overuse Injuries
Sickle Cell Trait
Skin Safety

Training & Performance

The NCAA provides member schools with evidence-based guidance and educational resources designed to promote safe training environments and optimize student-athlete performance. Developed in collaboration with medical experts and NCAA committees, these resources focus on nutrition, hydration, sleep, injury prevention and training strategies that help schools support the health, safety and well-being of their student-athletes.

From periodization to fueling and recovery, NCAA guidance helps schools implement practices that reduce injury risk, enhance performance and promote long-term student-athlete success.

Drug-Testing
Anti-Doping
Nutrition, Hydration & Sleep
Periodization
Performance Technologies

Education & Policy

The NCAA Sport Science Institute serves as a resource for member schools by sharing guidance, educational materials and policy information developed through the work of the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports and other experts. These resources help schools navigate emerging health and safety topics and support informed decision-making across college athletics.

Through research-informed recommendations, educational initiatives and policy guidance, member schools can access tools and best practices designed to promote the health, safety and performance of student-athletes while fostering safer sport environments.

Athletics Health Care Administration
Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports
Insurance
Key Publications

Data-Driven Decisions

The NCAA Sport Science Institute is constantly evolving our insights to reflect the most advanced research and provide the most innovative information and education to our member schools. Availability and access to athletics healthcare and sport injury data is foundational to this effort and the SSI has served as a national leader in the sport injury data collection effort for more than 30 years.
NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium
The CARE Consortium is a $23-million-dollar research initiative, part of the NCAA and U.S. Department of Defense Grand Alliance, that will offer critical insights into the natural history and neurophysiology of sport-related concussion.
NCAA Catastrophic Sport Injury Reporting
NCAA Association-wide legislation requires member schools to report annually on all student-athlete fatalities and catastrophic injuries, regardless of whether such fatality/injury is sport-related.
The NCAA Injury Surveillance Program
The NCAA Injury Surveillance Program was created in 1982 as a pen-and-paper data collection surveillance program with the aim of collecting injury and exposure data in a variety of sports. Individual athletic trainers and sports teams from a single institution, or multiple athletic trainers and teams from a single institution may participate.
NCAA-DoD Mind Matters Challenge
The Mind Matters is a $7 million initiative, part of the NCAA and U.S. Department of Defense Grand Alliance, aimed at changing important concussion safety behaviors and the culture of concussion reporting and management.
National College Health Assessment Survey
The American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment is a biannual, nationally recognized research survey that can assist in collecting precise data about students’ health habits, behaviors and perceptions. The NCAA partners with the ACHA to obtain national data comparing student-athlete and non-student-athlete data on topics such as alcohol, tobacco and other drug use; sexual health; weight, nutrition and exercise; mental health; and personal safety and violence.
NCAA Collegiate Wagering Study
The NCAA has had bylaws restricting sports wagering for many years because leaders in college athletics consistently and steadfastly believe that sports wagering not only threatens the integrity of the game but also is an entry point into other behaviors that may compromise student-athlete health and well-being. The NCAA Collegiate Wagering Study surveys college athletes about their attitudes toward and engagement in various gambling activities, including sports wagering.
NCAA GOALS Survey
The GOALS survey is a quadrennial NCAA study of the experiences and well-being of current college athletes. It provides the SSI and the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sport, as well as NCAA committees, policymakers and member schools, with the most detailed information to date on a range of important issues, including the health and well-being, athletics, academics and social experience of college student-athletes.
NCAA Social Environments Study
The NCAA Social Environments Study is designed to examine how student-athletes interact with various on-campus and community groups; the level of comfort and trust within the campus community; perceived ability to intervene when teammates and peers need help; and expectations/education provided by coaches and others in dealing with various issues that arise in a student-athlete’s social environment.

QUESTIONS?

The NCAA Sport Science Institute works to support student-athlete health, safety and performance through research, education and collaboration with medical and scientific experts. The institute provides resources and guidance to help member schools create safer environments for student-athletes. Have questions or need more information?

Contact Us
Meet the SSI Staff