Abstract
This article adopts the perspective of Sen’s capability approach to examine elite athletes’ environment and their capability to plan and prepare a career transition out of sport. Interviews were conducted with 14 elite athletes in Canada and results from the thematic analysis reveal that discrepancies exist in the athletes’ environment. Three types of environments emerged from the findings: enabling, restricting, or hindering athletes’ capabilities to plan and prepare their transition out of sport to a career they value. The difficulties reside more specifically in the possibilities they have to prepare an education path of their choice while being part of the national team. The results highlight that even though support from family and teammates is essential, it is not sufficient, as the support of coaching staff was shown to be crucial. The role of Game Plan advisors varies according to athletes’ type of environment and underline the importance of going beyond their role of individual counseling in certain types of environments.
Résumé
L'environnement des athlètes d'élite et leur capacité à planifier et préparer une transition de carrière hors du sport
Cet article adopte la perspective de l'approche par les capacités de Sen pour examiner l'environnement des athlètes d'élite et leur capacité à planifier et à préparer une transition de carrière hors du sport. Des entretiens ont été menés avec 14 athlètes d'élite au Canada et les résultats de l'analyse thématique révèlent l'existence de divergences dans l'environnement des athlètes. Trois types d'environnements peuvent être identifiés des résultats: ceux qui permettent, limitent ou entravent les capacités des athlètes à planifier et préparer leur transition hors du sport vers une carrière qu'ils apprécient. Les difficultés résident plus spécifiquement dans les possibilités qu'ils ont de préparer un voie de formation de leur choix tout en faisant partie de l'équipe nationale. Les résultats soulignent que même si le soutien de la famille et des coéquipier-ère-s est essentiel, il n'est pas suffisant, car le soutien du personnel d'entraînement s'est avéré crucial. Le rôle des conseiller-ère-s du programme Plan de match varie selon le type d'environnement des athlètes et souligne l'importance d'aller au-delà de leur rôle de conseil individuel dans certains types d'environnement.
Zusammenfassung
Das Umfeld von Spitzensportler*innen und ihre Fähigkeit, einen beruflichen Übergang nach dem Sport zu planen und vorzubereiten
In diesem Artikel wird die Perspektive des Capability-Approach von Sen eingenommen, um das Umfeld von Spitzensportler*innen und ihre Fähigkeit zur Planung und Vorbereitung eines beruflichen Übergangs nach dem Sport zu untersuchen. Es wurden Interviews mit 14 Spitzensportler*innen in Kanada geführt, und die Ergebnisse der thematischen Inhaltsanalyse zeigen, dass es Diskrepanzen im Umfeld der Sportler*innen gibt. Aus den Ergebnissen lassen sich drei Arten von Umfeldern ableiten: Sie ermöglichen, beschränken oder behindern die Fähigkeit der Athlet*innen, ihren Übergang aus dem Sport in eine wünschenswerte berufliche Laufbahn zu planen und vorzubereiten. Die Schwierigkeiten liegen vor allem in den Möglichkeiten, die sie haben, um einen Bildungsweg ihrer Wahl vorzubereiten, während sie Teil der Nationalmannschaft sind. Die Ergebnisse verdeutlichen, dass die Unterstützung durch Familie und Mannschaftskamerad*innen zwar wichtig, aber nicht ausreichend ist, da sich die Unterstützung durch das Trainerteam als entscheidend erwiesen hat. Die Rolle der Spielplanberatenden variiert je nach Art des Umfelds der Athlet*innen und unterstreicht, wie wichtig es ist, in bestimmten Umgebungen über ihre Rolle der individuellen Beratung hinauszugehen.
Resumen
El entorno de los deportistas de élite y su capacidad para planificar y preparar una transición profesional fuera del deporte Este artículo adopta el enfoque de las capacidades de Sen para examinar el entorno de los deportistas de élite y su capacidad para planificar y preparar una transición profesional fuera del deporte. Se realizaron entrevistas a 14 atletas de élite de Canadá y los resultados del análisis temático revelan la existencia de entornos divergentes entre los atletas. A partir de los resultados se pueden identificar tres tipos de entornos: los que permiten, limitan o dificultan la capacidad de los deportistas para planificar y preparar su transición fuera del deporte hacia una carrera que les guste. En concreto, las dificultades residen en las oportunidades que tienen de prepararse para un itinerario de formación de su elección mientras siguen en la selección nacional. Los resultados destacan que, aunque el apoyo de la familia y de los compañeros de equipo es esencial, no es suficiente, ya que el apoyo del personal técnico resultó ser crucial. El papel de los asesores del Plan de Juego varía según el tipo de entorno de los deportistas y pone de manifiesto la importancia de ir más allá de su función de asesoramiento individual en algunos tipos de entorno.
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Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available from Game Plan. Restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for this study but can be available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Notes
Up to a maximum of 5 years that can be used at Canadian Educational Institutions only,
The degree to which the person identifies with the athlete role and the degree of exclusivity that this person attaches to it (Brewer et al., 1993).
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Acknowledgements
This paper and the research behind it would not have been possible without the exceptional support of the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence who helped me financially with my tuitions, but more importantly have been supporting me morally since the beginning this journey. I also wish to extend my special thanks to my colleagues at Game Plan who have answered numerous questions with unfailing patience and provided me all the support I needed to start and finalize this project.
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Sophie Brassard and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Brassard, S., Dionne, P. & Bourdon, S. Elite athletes’ environment and their capability to plan and prepare a career transition out of sport. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-022-09564-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-022-09564-w