WHEN THE GAME ENDS. A CAREER AFTER.

The roar of a crowd, notoriety and admiration, are often times part of a professional athletes daily life. The sensation of winning and the satisfaction that comes with intense training and preparation to conquer their opponent, are not easily replaced by corporate workplace duties or the luxuries of retirement. Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard said, “Nothing could satisfy me outside the ring… there is nothing in life that can compare to becoming a world champion, having your hand raised in that moment of glory, with thousands, millions of people cheering you on.”

Lavallee & Grove (1997) identified that individuals with a high athletic identity at the time of retirement were more likely to experience a higher degree of emotional adjustment difficulties. Bill Cole, a world-renowned peak performance coach who has worked with many athletes who have struggled to come to terms with their retirement, noted that an important factor was this profound sense of loss in their lives that athletes may experience after putting their competing days behind them.

The comfort of routine around sports training can hinder an athlete’s ability to look beyond the present and plan for the future. Tunnel vision can leave athletes ill- prepared for the balanced perspective required for “real world” career opportunities. Athletes who have clear, mapped-out strategies on where to apply their focus have the greatest chance at long-term happiness and fulfillment outside of their sports career.

Bill Cole also noted the importance that biological factors may play in an athlete who is struggling in their retirement. Athletes have had regular doses of serotonin daily for many years, when this is suddenly decreased or stopped outright, we see a huge upset to the chemistry of the body. A causal link between an imbalance in serotonin levels and depression has been explored by a number of researchers, however, more research in retired athletes posits exploration.

What Next?

There are a number of ways that athletes can help to reduce the chances of depression after retirement from sport, these include:

• Reduce your exclusive identification with your sporting role and expand your self- identity to other pursuits
• Discover interests and competences for other activities beyond sport (perhaps considering coaching or the mentoring of other athletes)
• Acquiring stress management and time management skills (such skills will represent tools that help you better reconcile sport with your other roles)
• Encourage strong relationships with coaches, family, friends and managers who care about your sporting success as well as your personal growth. Being supported by significant others to consider other avenues in life will help you keep an open mind and diversify your identity
• Consult with a sport psychologist to help explore further avenues and adaptation techniquesAthletes by nature are mentally tough individuals and are often perceived by the public to be fitter, healthier and happier than others. It is this attitude and stereotyping that can make it more difficult for them to approach someone for help. Therefore it is highly important for close family, friends, team mates and coaches to understand that depression cannot always be seen and the athlete may indeed never admit to how they feel for fear of shame and embarrassment. The most important take home message is to understand that despite their incredible success in their hard-fought and dedicated careers, the process of retirement and transition into their new career is a difficult one and it is in this time that social support and communication is of vital importance if the athlete is to avoid the dreaded post- retirement blues.Sport Forward targets two specific stages of an athlete’s career; the time when recruitment and drafting is on the promising horizon, to the transition from professional playing into life’s next chapter. Support is at the core of all of our business practices and we work vigorously to build the appropriate eco-system that will sustain our client’s goals and future.