TY - JOUR
T1 - Navigating the shift from netballer to former netballer: the experience of retirement from elite netball in Australia
AU - Fairlie, Lisa
AU - Stanley, Mandy
AU - George, Emma
AU - Sereda, Benjamin
AU - Mosewich, Amber
PY - 2020/7/2
Y1 - 2020/7/2
N2 - Retirement from elite sport has been explored in several pursuits; however, retirement for elite women, particularly those who play team sports, has received scant attention. The present study explores the unique context of retirement from elite netball in Australia through a qualitative descriptive design. Five former Australian netballers participated in one-on-one semi-structured interviews to explore their experiences of retirement from elite sport. Thematic analysis revealed four themes which highlighted the (a) process in navigating the shift from netballer to former netballer; (b) impact of leaving the team environment; (c) differing experiences based on the athlete’s degree of control over retirement; and (d) strategies that are or would be useful in moving forward and coping with the change. Findings reveal the importance of structured support and maintaining a sport-life balance in easing the transition to retirement. Suggestions are made to improve the experience of retirement from elite sport for current netballers.
AB - Retirement from elite sport has been explored in several pursuits; however, retirement for elite women, particularly those who play team sports, has received scant attention. The present study explores the unique context of retirement from elite netball in Australia through a qualitative descriptive design. Five former Australian netballers participated in one-on-one semi-structured interviews to explore their experiences of retirement from elite sport. Thematic analysis revealed four themes which highlighted the (a) process in navigating the shift from netballer to former netballer; (b) impact of leaving the team environment; (c) differing experiences based on the athlete’s degree of control over retirement; and (d) strategies that are or would be useful in moving forward and coping with the change. Findings reveal the importance of structured support and maintaining a sport-life balance in easing the transition to retirement. Suggestions are made to improve the experience of retirement from elite sport for current netballers.
KW - coping
KW - identity
KW - retirement transitions
KW - social support
KW - women athletes
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85063945237&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/17430437.2019.1597856
DO - 10.1080/17430437.2019.1597856
M3 - Article
VL - 23
SP - 1100
EP - 1118
JO - Sport in Society: Cultures, Commerce, Media, Politics
JF - Sport in Society: Cultures, Commerce, Media, Politics
SN - 1743-0437
IS - 7
ER -