Athlete’s transition to high achievement sport (within a career program) Sverker Bengtsson
Department of Sports Sciences, Malmö University
This research constitutes a baseline study in a longitudinal study over three years, examining the process of athlete’s transition to high achievement sport, especially regarding athletes in a “career program”. This particular focus of interest has not received much attention in research up to date. Based on holistic developmental and ecological perspectives the overall study longitudinally examines athletes perceived demands in and outside sport, strategies the athletes use to cope with the demands in sport and other spheres of life, the transition
environment (i.e., perceived external resources and barriers) and developmental outcomes and quality of the transition. The transition variables were measured by means of established and validated instruments as well as semi-structured interviews. Twenty-six athletes take part in the study. Theoretical frameworks in the study include the ecological model of human
development, the developmental model of transitions faced by athletes and the athletic career transition model. The base-line study is the first measurement of three. Preliminary results from the baseline study suggest that career planning, goal setting, balancing life roles and style, stress/time/energy management skills, effective recovery, continuity in coaching and social support are important issues in the transition process, helping the athletes to develop internal resources to cope. The results of the base-line study are discussed as well as forthcoming expected results in the overall study, and its implications for optimising the transition environment.
