“You need to allow yourself to grieve that loss and that identity.” College Athletes’ Transition to Life After College Sport.”

Authors

Clare Manthey, Gonzaga UniversityFollow
Jimmy Smith, Gonzaga UniversityFollow

Abstract

Only a small percentage of collegiate athletes compete at the professional level of sport after they graduate, leaving most athletes to transition out of a life involved in sport. Research reviewing life after competitive sport for college athletes and the consequences associated with such a transition is plentiful, however, additional research also argues that life transition research is necessary to maximize the understanding of such a phenomenon. A case study approach used Schlossberg’s Theory of Transition (2011) to research recently retired collegiate college athletes and their time transitioning away from competitive college sports. Several themes emerged from the qualitative results including, the stress of transition, athletics unites hardworking individuals, freedom after college, physical change, college athlete identity, and a sense of loss in transition. The current study reviewed results to offer new insights into retired college athlete transition as well as how athletic departments and coaches can better prepare their athletes for this transition. Based on the research, those that prepare for such a transition should consider a grieving process as a part of the transition.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.25035/jade.05.01.02

Recommended Citation

Manthey, Clare and Smith, Jimmy (2023) "“You need to allow yourself to grieve that loss and that identity.” College Athletes’ Transition to Life After College Sport.”," Journal of Athlete Development and Experience: Vol. 5: Iss. 1, Article 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25035/jade.05.01.02
Available at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/jade/vol5/iss1/2

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