Post-collegiate athlete transitions and the influence of a coach

Abstract

ABSTRACT Through examination of semi-structured interviews from former National Collegiate Athletic Association athletes (n = 150), this study used Schlossberg’s [1981. A model for analyzing human adaptation to transition. The Counseling Psychologist, 9(2), 2–18. doi:10.1177/001100008100900202] transition theory and Jowett’s [2007. Interdependence analysis and the 3 + 1Cs in the coach–athlete relationship. In S. Jowett, & D. Lavallee (Eds.), Social psychology in sport (pp. 15–27). Human Kinetics] 3C’s model to explore the influence of the coach, on athlete post-college transitions. Athletes found the transition difficult, experiencing feelings of identity loss and depression, while 39% reported difficulty and ease in their transition out of sport. The remaining 41% of athletes reported a smooth transition because they established identities outside of athletics and prepared for the ending of their athletic careers. Athletes voicing strong interpersonal support systems, mainly family and coaches, more successfully navigated their post-college transition than their peers who lacked interpersonal support. Finally, former athletes who noted positive athlete-coach relationships demonstrating 3Cs of commitment, closeness, and complementarity, found transition out of sport to be smooth.