Career intervention programmes for retired elite athletes in Zambia: a phenomenological inquiry.
Date
2021
Authors
Chifita, Tracy
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
Every individual goes through career transitions at some point in their life. Nevertheless, in sports, athletes go through different types of career transition and it is very important to learn how to cope with them. The study explored the livelihood experiences of elite athletes in retirement, and their experiences with retirement intervention programmes offered to athletes by sports organizations prior to retirement. The main objectives were to explore the livelihood experiences of retired elite Zambian athletes; to examine the nature of retirement intervention programmes offered to elite athletes by sports organizations in Zambia; and to analyse the challenges faced by sports organizations in providing retirement interventions to elite athletes. Qualitative approach was used and a descriptive phenomenological design was adopted. Nine retired elite athletes and seven general secretaries of seven sports organizations namely; National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ), National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ), Netball Association of Zambia (NAZ), Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), Football Allied Workers Union of Zambia (FAWUZ), Zambia Amateur Athletics Association (ZAAA) and Zambia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Board were interviewed. Document review of relevant literature and documents also provided information for the study. Data was analysed by means of themes and was guided by Taylor and Ogilvie’s (1994) conceptual model of adaptation to retirement.
The results showed that elite athletes either retired voluntarily (free will) or involuntarily (due to injury, deselection, or old age) from active sports. Pre-planning was the most prominent method used to prepare for retirement and it enhanced the athletes’ career prospects. It was found that many athletes had both positive and negative retirement experiences during the transition. Furthermore, the satisfaction of the Zambian retired athletes’ livelihood was based on whether they had a stable employment or not after retirement. Elite retired athletes in some sports organizations were offered pre and post career and educational retirement interventions (in the form of employment, scholarships, financial literacy and management skill training). However, pre and post psychological intervention (in the form of counselling) was non- existent to the athletes and in most sports organizations. The study also revealed challenges faced by sports organizations in implementing the interventions, including: absence of national sports policy on career pathway, inadequate resources, ungovernable athletes, and lack of participation and coordination by athletes/associations. The study recommends that elite athletes must pre-plan for
their retirement and equip themselves with a balanced and various ranges of life competencies; the sports organizations should ensure that psychological, career and educational interventions are made available equally to all the athletes both prior to and after retirement. Finally, the policy formulators should provide policy directions on athletes’ career pathways and support from the government perspective in order to help reduce the challenges faced by sports organizations in implementing the interventions.
Key words: Sports organizations, athletic retirement intervention, challenges, strategies, livelihood
Description
Thesis
Keywords
Career development--Athletics , Retirement--Social aspects. , Retirement--Psychological aspects. , Athletes--Mental health.