Life as a young talented athlete:  exploring the within-career transitions  experienced by high performance  adolescent athletes in Ireland

An athletic career is determined by developments within and outside of the sporting domain, termed a “whole person, whole career” approach (Wylleman & Lavallee, 2004; Alfermann & Stambulova, 2007). Within-career transitions are turning phases in the course of an athletic career (Stambulova, Alfermann, Statler, & Côté 2009). The aim of this study was to explore the within-career transitions experienced by four adolescent high performance athletes as they transitioned out of post-primary education and prepared to enter elite senior sport. 

The study employed a life history methodology which began with the use of retrospective life history grids (adapted from Côté, Ericsson, & Law, 2005). Over the next two years, data from qualitative interviews provided insight into the athletes’ lives, their choices, decisions and resulting consequences. The data was analysed using inductive-deductive thematic content analysis, framed by the revised version of Schlossberg’s model of analysing human adaptation to transition (MAHAT, Anderson, Goodman, & Schlossberg, 2012). 

All of the athletes experienced transitions inside and outside of their sport. These were both planned and unanticipated, and included transitions in education, their sport, and injury/illness. Results suggest it is not the transition itself which is significant, but its impact on the athletes’ lives. Six main themes emerged from the life histories: early sporting experiences, the specialising years, approaching transitions, the transitions experienced, the ratio of assets to liabilities and changes over time. Wider contextual factors (i.e., Irish sport and education system) played a significant role in how the athletes made decisions that impacted on their lives.

The recommendations highlight the importance of viewing the young athlete not just from a “whole person, whole career” perspective but also to consider their “whole environment”. Additionally, by strengthening an athlete’s ratio of assets to liabilities, i.e., developing “transition toughness”, talent loss could be minimised and all-round development promoted.