During their playing careers, athletes are often hesitant to plan for life after they retire. Whether it be due to not having the time, or simply not wanting to think about it, it is understandable that professional sportspeople may not want to prepare for any career transitions away from the sport they have played for so long. That said, evidence has been found that doing so during a career can actually benefit current performance.
Starting with a study on 632 NRL (National Rugby League) players, Lavallee (2018) found that higher levels of engagement in pre-retirement planning were positively associated with team selection and career tenure.
Lyons (2018) says that players often believe that involvement in this planning will act as a distraction from their current career, however the results are often the opposite. When the athletes attended support sessions regarding career planning, it is explained by Lavallee that the players then have more time to focus on their performance due to less cognitive dissonance. In other words, the planning means they have less conflicting thoughts about their future, and can therefore focus on the present.
These benefits are becoming more acknowledged in the world of sports, with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and Rugby Players Ireland (RPI) ensuring that all players have access to a Player Development Manager, whose role is to provide support to players to “help them maximize the opportunities for personal development while they are still playing, and ultimately prepare them for life after the game” (Lyons, 2018).
Lyons also says that the Player Development Manager has positive impacts for clubs too, with the whole-person approach to developing their players can keep them at the club for longer. It is also a positive for parents of academy players, who have more trust in the club if they know their child’s off-the-pitch lives are supported too.
An example of athletes who do so and see the benefits is Shona McCallin MBE. Having won gold at the Rio Olympics in 2016, Shona is set to be a part of our 2024 intake at Global Institute of Sport. Speaking to us about the benefits, Shona agrees that education is “So important” to have an education alongside sport.
“My parents, coaches and mentors have all instilled how important it is to have an education and develop skills away from your sport.
“I’ve always had other projects running alongside my career. Now I’ve retired, I know I want to work in sport and continue my learning.”
Another example is Brad Guzan. Having made 144 league appearances for Aston Villa and currently playing for Atlanta United, the goalkeeper also studies MSc Football Business with GIS. Fellow MLS star Tsubasa Endoh has also signed up to study the MSc International Sport Management.
Article by Zak Anani
