College-athlete identity: The influence of transition
College-athlete identity: The influence of transition
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Issue Date
2009
Authors
Edmondson, Nik
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Abstract
This research aimed to look at the college student-athlete and the influence of transitioning out of sport on their perceived identity. With the large amount of time, energy, and success placed into being an athlete from a young age, high level college athletes are forced to face the feelings of adjusting part of their identity when they transition out of high level competitive sport. The researcher interviewed seven former division I and II college student-athletes who did not go on to play professionally to shed light on the experience of what an athlete identifies themselves with, and the change in that identity after the transition out of college sport. Grounded theory was used to analyze data, which allowed for individual experiences to be heard, concepts to emerge, and analysis to occur. The research showed that the process of an individual associating their identity with sport occurred due to high competence levels in the sport and positive social interactions through the sport. The transition out of sport was then seen as a shift in the individual's competent area of focus and positive social network, which determined where the identity was placed.