Search Results (54)

Achieving high-quality employment for retired athletes is essential for promoting the holistic development of athletes and accelerating the construction of a strong sports nation. From the perspective of capital collaboration, this study develops a comprehensive analysis framework by incorporating human capital, social capital, and psychological capital to systematically investigate the influencing factors and configuration pathways for high-quality employment of retired athletes. Utilizing Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), this study discovers three main findings. First, no single condition variable independently constitutes the necessary condition for high-quality employment. Second, three configuration pathways for achieving high-quality employment are identified, including human capital–social capital synergy, human capital–psychological capital synergy, and human capital–social capital–psychological capital integration. Third, vocational skill, as a component of human capital, emerges as an important condition in configurations associated with high-quality employment. Based on the findings, this research recommends improving the athlete security policy system, promoting the accumulation of human capital, strengthening the development of psychological capital, constructing diverse social support networks, and optimizing the pathways for retired athletes to achieve high-quality employment. These aims will support retired athletes in navigating career transitions effectively while securing stable and high-quality employment. Full article

Active athletes represent a specific target for learning and development. Their schedules, including training sessions and competitions, leave little time for education. However, athletes still need skills beyond sports to ensure they are prepared for future employment. Our study approaches this issue by identifying appropriate settings for athletes’ learning and development. (1) Based on the background of current athletes’ education, it addresses the gap of not enough attention being paid to transferable practices from corporate attitudes to learning and development. (2) The study’s methodology primarily uses the case study concept because this conveys the video content we created for the athletes’ learning and development. This is combined with the method of content analysis of selected examples from corporate learning and development and the design thinking workshop, with the engagement of important stakeholder groups: athletes (2 participants), lecturers (2 participants), and representatives of sports organizations (1 participant). The other 9 workshop participants were master’s students in a managerial study programme because of their age similarities with the current athletes and the applicability of the courses they were studying to athletes’ education. (3) The designed process was created as a digital twin using haptic artefacts and the S2M technology (version 1.0) within the OMiLAB platform (version 1.6). Our results show that video content tailored to the athletes’ constraints is a viable solution that improves their career prospects. (4) The study’s practical implications are supported by the expert validation of the model provided by the inside of the large sports organizations’ management. Full article

Soccer is practiced by professionals, amateurs, and recreational players. The physical assessment tools used by professionals are rarely available in recreational settings. Given the widespread participation and potential health benefits of soccer activity, it becomes essential to identify simple and accessible indicators that can help to characterize physical ability in non-professional players. This cross-sectional observational work explores which health status and lifestyle indices can be useful to estimate physical ability in recreational male soccer players when field testing is not feasible. Sixty-six participants volunteered in the study. Five performance field tests were conducted, and a related overall physical ability index (KPI_tot) was defined, while a questionnaire was developed to investigate nine BIO_Indices (BMI, age, physical activity level, job, alcohol consumption, smoking habits, sports career, occurring injuries, medical history). Data for the selected performance tests are reported for the recruited recreational athletes. KPI_tot was estimated from BIO_Indices, using a stepwise backward regression. The selected model, named SOCCER_Index, incorporates six out of nine BIO_Indices, excluding smoking habits, sports career, and medical history (R² = 0.536). In conclusion, with a simple questionnaire, an estimate of soccer players’ physical ability can be obtained. Further data collection is needed to obtain a more generalizable and robust SOCCER_Index. Full article

Background: Despite many young players showing strong potential, only a small fraction succeeds in the critical transition from youth to elite senior football. This scoping review synthesizes research on the junior-to-senior transition in men’s football, identifying main topics related with barriers and facilitators in the transition. Methods: Searches were performed in four databases (PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science) according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA, 2020) guidelines, using the following keywords: “football*” OR football AND talent* OR “talent identification” OR “talent development” OR expert* OR gift* AND “junior-to-senior” OR “transition career” or “athlete career transition” OR “transition phase”. Original articles in English focused on the junior-to-senior process in male footballers were included. Results: From 5307 titles, 35 studies met eligibility criteria. The most examined themes were psychosocial factors, including social support, stressors, and resilience. The reviewed studies identified organizational structure and effective club communication as facilitators and emphasized the importance of physical attributes to meet senior-level demands. Conclusions: Overall, the junior-to-senior transition is multifaceted, shaped by psychosocial, organizational, and physical factors. Despite robust research, gaps remain; future longitudinal and interdisciplinary studies should inform evidence-based strategies for optimizing player development and retention. Full article

The present systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of evidence and practices regarding sustainable career transitions in elite sport. Following PRISMA guidelines, an extensive literature search was conducted in SPORTDiscus (EBSCOhost), PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases, resulting in 117 manuscripts, published from January 2015 to May 2025, and meeting the defined inclusion criteria. The review focused on mental health, dual-career pathways, transition readiness, and identity-related issues among elite athletes, Olympians, and Paralympians. Methodologies included qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods designs, with multisport and mixed-gender samples prevailing. The most commonly used instruments were semi-structured interviews and surveys. The main findings highlighted the centrality of mental health support, the role of dual-career planning, and the importance of proactive identity negotiation. Despite growing research interest, significant gaps persist in access to psychological support, structured transition planning, and dual-career strategies, with notable inconsistencies across countries and sports. The review emphasizes the necessity for integrated, multidimensional guidance, culturally sensitive psychological services, and flexible educational pathways to promote athlete well-being and sustainable post-sport careers. These insights are intended to inform the implementation of the ERASMUS+ funded PORTAL project, supporting evidence-based interventions and the development of resources such as an online platform and Real-Life Transition Officers to enhance the transition experiences of elite athletes. Full article

This article explores how gender stereotypes and institutional practices influence the development and public image of women’s football in Romania, framing the case within debates on social sustainability (SDG 5), media representation, and sports governance. Using a mixed-methods approach, we triangulate (1) a qualitative content analysis of DigiSport online coverage (n = 57 articles; 2022–2025), (2) public testimonies collected at a national conference on gender and sport held in Timișoara in 2025 and (3) two in-depth, semi-structured interviews with one professional player whose multi-club career offers cross-organizational insights and one professional player who is still a student at the start of her career. The findings reveal systematic symbolic exclusion: in our sample, stories about women’s football make up approximately 2% of total football coverage and are mostly limited to results-only briefs, with little contextual information about athletes, resources, or structures. Historically, post-socialist policy changes have led to formal recognition but limited material support, resulting in symbolic compliance, such as UEFA/FRF mandates without corresponding investments. Current initiatives, like FRF’s Modele de Femeie campaign and UEFA-supported GOALSCORE, increase visibility but coexist with persistent gendered framings in media narratives and public discourse. The interviews support the media findings, highlighting recurring barriers—such as precarious funding, limited pathways, gendered disrespect in stadiums, and the psychological impact of marginalization—alongside stories of resilience and agency. We argue that achieving sustainable inclusion in women’s football requires more than regulatory measures; it calls for media parity, stable resources, and gender-competent leadership. Aligning policy with cultural change through equitable coverage standards, transparent funding, and accountability measures can transform football from a symbol of inequality into a space of social empowerment. Full article

Female participation in NCAA athletics has grown significantly since the passage of Title IX—the 1972 U.S. federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational programs and activities receiving federal funding—yet much of the existing research continues to focus on male athletes, leaving important gaps in our understanding of women’s experiences in collegiate sports. One underexamined area with important public health implications is the role of coach–athlete relationships in shaping female athletes’ mental health, access to resources, and overall collegiate experience. This exploratory study draws on in-depth interviews with 19 former female NCAA athletes to examine how their relationships with coaches influenced their athletic careers, mental health, and perceptions of support. Participants represented a range of sports and competitive levels, allowing for variation in experiences across contexts. Findings reveal that coach–athlete relationships are not only central to performance and motivation but also serve as key sources of emotional, social, and material support—or, in some cases, stress and disengagement. The quality and impact of these relationships were shaped by competitive pressures, team dynamics, and institutional expectations. This study underscores the importance of relational context in understanding the broader landscape of female NCAA athletes’ experiences and suggests that coach–athlete dynamics merit greater attention in both research and athletic program development. These findings underscore the relevance of coach–athlete dynamics as a public health concern, particularly in relation to mental health and emotional well-being in competitive sports environments. Supporting healthier relational cultures in collegiate athletics is essential for promoting positive health outcomes among female student-athletes. Full article

Some protein food supplements intended for athletes may be adulterated with pharmacologically active substances, including anabolic steroids and prohormones. The addition of these substances is aimed at enabling manufacturers to achieve rapid sales growth by promising quick increases in strength and muscle mass. However, the consumption of these products will lead to a positive result in a routine anti-doping test, along with all of the consequences that will directly affect an athlete’s career and reputation. At the same time, the illicit use of anabolic steroids continues to evolve across numerous sport disciplines. Moreover, vicious cheaters try to cover up their illegal actions by using various pharmacological agents to mask detection in anti-doping tests. This narrative review focuses on two situations—the innocent athlete and the vicious cheater. The athlete involved in inadvertent doping will suffer the consequences of doping, making close collaboration with medical staff extremely important. The analytic strategies described here address anabolic steroid doping detection and cheating using masking agents. This approach, based on biochemical changes, examines how these substances interfere with the testosterone pathway, from synthesis to elimination. Using masking agents alters the steroid profile, and the modifications produced by each agent are the subject of a detailed presentation. For most honest athletes, these findings support the initiation, development, and refinement of strategies for identifying food supplements with added illegal substances. Every athlete must have access to these approaches in order to avoid becoming vulnerable to sports fraud. Full article

Objective: As performance progression provides an essential indicator for talent selection and development, this study aimed to compare annual swimming performance progression between different competitive levels and to establish benchmarks for long-term athlete development. Methods: Annual best times of swimmers who competed up to the age of 21 years and achieved over 450 World Aquatics points were extracted from the database of European Aquatics. A total of 13,310 male and 7798 female pool swimmers of all race distances were grouped into three performance levels. Results: The results showed a continuous decline in annual performance progression throughout the years across all race distances (all p < 0.001) and in both sexes. There were differences between performance level across the age groups for all race distances in male swimmers, but only for the 100–400 m races in females (p < 0.05). Absolute performance showed significant main effects for level and age over all race distances for both sexes (all p < 0.001). Conclusions: Annual performance progression of swimmers consistently decreases across the competitive lifetime in both sexes, regardless of race distance and performance level. The event-specific benchmarks should be used as a framework to set realistic goals for both sexes and swimmers of different competitive levels, as well as to guide swimmers throughout their careers. Full article

Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) is a joint condition characterized by damage to the surface of the joint and the underlying subchondral bone, leading to early-onset osteoarthritis. It predominantly affects the knee, elbow, and ankle, with higher prevalence in juveniles actively participating in sports, which complicates the condition due to slow healing processes and prolonged restrictions on physical activities. This review aims to summarize current knowledge on OCD in athletes, with emphasis on sport-specific risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment, to support clinical decision-making and future research. We conducted searches in the PubMed and Embase databases, covering the period from 2014 to 2024. The keywords used in the search covered most common sports in combination with term osteochondritis dissecans. This review examines the impacts of various sports on the development of OCD, analyzing prevalence and risk factors, with a focus on sports-specific risks across athletic disciplines like football, basketball, baseball, and gymnastics. The significance of early detection, intervention, and sport-specific conditioning is underscored to prevent the condition and manage it effectively. Moreover, the review highlights the positive prognosis for athletes, particularly adolescents, recovering from OCD, with a high rate of return to sport. Understanding the sports-specific risks, ensuring early intervention, and adopting a cautious, stepwise return to sport are critical for managing OCD effectively, thereby safeguarding the health and careers of athletes. Full article

Injury or fear of injury can cause stress for everyone. This is especially true for dancers, whose careers can be ruined by a serious injury. Stress or various psychological problems can play a role in the development of injury. Our research aims to explore the psychosocial patterns associated with injuries among Hungarian professional folk dancers. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 96 professional dancers (47.9% male, 52.1% female, mean age 29.9 years). Data was collected through an online questionnaire survey. Among psychological factors, perceived stress (using the Perceived Stress Scale), burnout (using the Athletic Burnout Questionnaire), coping skills (using the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory), relationship with the leader (using the Coaching Behaviour Questionnaire) and perceived social support (using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support) were examined among injured and non-injured dancers. The two groups were compared along psychological subscales using Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) followed by a post hoc ANOVA and Mann–Whitney test regarding social support. Our results showed a significant correlation between psychosocial factors and injuries sustained during the study period. Positive correlation was found between injuries and perceived stress (p < 0.001) and burnout (reduced sense of accomplishment p = 0.021; dance devaluation p < 0.001). Factors reflecting dancer’s behavior and coping skills also correlated with injuries, such as a decrease in coachability (p = 0.007), less concern (p = 0.029), and negative reactions to the leader’s behavior (p = 0.019). In addition, perceived social support from family also negatively correlates with injury (p = 0.019). Our findings suggest a multidirectional relationship between physical injuries and the mental state of dancers. Further investigation of the causal relationships is recommended, with the aim of using psychosocial support tools during the prevention and treatment of injuries by the professionals dealing with dance artists. It is also recommended to investigate whether individual psychological factors are directly related to injuries or interact with each other. It would also be useful to introduce prevention programs that help dancers manage their emotions related to injuries. Full article

Education leads to building successful careers. However, different groups of students have different studying preferences. Our target group are athletes, combining their education and sports training. The main objective is to provide recommendations for an effective education system for athletes, improving their chances of finding new careers after leaving sports. Such a system must include Big Data and utilise AI possibilities currently available that support athletes’ career planning and development in a meaningful way. The main objective is specified by the following partial objectives: identifying what types of Big Data to analyse in connection with the athletes’ education; revealing what AI tools to include in the athletes’ education for their better preparation for a career after sports; determining what knowledge of AI and Big Data athletes need to stay relevant once they enter the labour market. Our study combines secondary and primary data sources. The secondary data (used in the orientation analysis) include case studies on AI and Big Data connected to education. The primary data were collected via a survey performed on over 200 Slovak junior athletes. The results show directions for the sports policymakers and sports organisations’ managers willing to improve their athletes’ career prospects. Full article

During their career, most professional players in team sports encounter club-to-club transfers (CCTs). Indeed, it is unusual for a player to remain with a single club throughout their professional career, making these transitions pivotal moments in elite sports environments. However, there is lack of knowledge as concerns the psychosocial skills involved when players encounter CCT challenges. The current study was concerned with integrating Social Adaptability Skills (SAS) simultaneously with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to assist athletes with overcoming CCT challenges. A linear mixed model analysis using the likelihood ratio test revealed significant improvements in SAS, p < 0.05. Furthermore, the main effect of period was significant F(2, 203.17) = 286.07, p < 0.001, indicating that the propensity to enact and deploy SAS varied across the measurement periods (pre-, post-, and retention-test). These findings suggest that ACT-based mindfulness interventions may play a crucial role in reinforcing athletes’ enactment of SAS in overcoming CCT challenges. Overall, the results confirm that the SAS educational intervention effectively equipped athletes with the necessary psychosocial attributes to navigate CCT challenges. This study provides a foundation for future research and practical applications, emphasizing the need for structured psychological support within talent development programs. Full article

Although sports are a dream career for many young people, only a small percentage of athletes can make a living from this. Moreover, even elite athletes with high incomes must find other employment after sports. This justifies the development of their human capital via education valued by employers. Our article originally approaches this issue with recommendations for the effective education of athletes. The aim is to identify and analyze the key skills that former athletes use in the work environment and that help them successfully integrate into employment outside sports. Our robust scientific approach, described in the methodology, combines relevant secondary and primary data and corresponding analytical methods. The secondary data analysis identified the skills required by employers as well as the employment of former athletes in areas outside of sports. Based on quantitative primary data (questionnaire on a sample of 237 young athletes), the skills perceived as important by young athletes were revealed. The qualitative component is represented by interviews with selected former athletes and employers from the corporate environment. The main findings include the alignment of the perceived importance of certain skills by young athletes and employers. The high perceived importance of education during sports careers was supported by all stakeholders. Full article

This study investigates the efficacy of a psycho-educational curriculum package in enhancing the practitioners’ competence to support high-performance athletes’ career transitions. This curriculum was integrated into academic modules at higher education institutions in Singapore (n = 18) and the UK (n = 14). Using online pre- and post-intervention questionnaires, along with open-ended questions, participant feedback on the curriculum was collected. Paired t-tests were used to assess the within-group differences pre- and post-intervention and two-way repeated-measures ANOVAs were conducted to examine the between-group differences pre- and post-intervention. The results revealed a significant difference between pre- and post-intervention scores for four factors and for both countries: Singapore and the UK. The curriculum enhanced participants’ confidence in working with athletes and helped identify areas for development. Three key themes were identified from the thematic content analysis of open-ended responses: (a) informative and insightful content, (b) interactive and engaging delivery (strengths), (c) overlapping content, and reading demands and time constraints (areas for improvement). By incorporating this feedback, supported by the results, the current study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by furnishing insights into an effective psycho-educational curriculum for helping the career transitions of high-performance athletes. Full article