Studie naar factoren die bijdragen tot de ontwikkeling van getalenteerde en elite jonge atleten naar elite seniors vanuit ontwikkelings- en holistisch perspectief

Although considered one of the most challenging transitions during an athletic career, few empirical data is available on the junior-senior transition. Using the Holistic Athletic Career Model (HACM; Wylleman, Reints, & De Knop, 2013) as a conceptual framework this study aimed at (1) identifying the importance and satisfaction with the current situation in sport and life (2) identifying the changes and difficulties athletes experience at five levels of development (i.e. athletic, psychological, psychosocial, academic/vocational, and financial level) when transitioning from junior to senior elite athlete and (3) identifying environmental support and pressure. An ?online questionnaire was used to collect data from elite athletes ranging from one year before till one to three years after their transition from junior to senior level. this questionnaire was based on a literature review, the HACM, the Transition Monitoring Survey (Stambulova, Franck, & Weibull, 2012) and on 27 interviews conducted by the researcher (10 high performance directors, 10 athletes who are still active and 7 athletes who already dropped out). A total of 95 Flemish elite athletes completed the questionnaire. Preliminary results indicate that sport is very important for athletes and that athletes experience changes at each of the five levels of development for example? a higher level of and more rivalry at competition, changing lifestyle, less good relationship with friends, more workload at academia etc. Recommendations on support provision to athletes facing the junior-senior transition include support after athletes have finished their elite sport school in secondary education, preparing athletes mentally (e.g. patience, time management) and giving them sufficient support at the academic level.  

Jaar van publicatie:2016

Trefwoorden:holistic approach, junior-senior transition