Preparing NCAA Division I athletes for athletic retirement : making the transition from athlete to working professional

Abstract

The purpose of this creative project was to provide an educational course that can be used to better prepare NCAA Division I athletes for their sport retirement. By offering this course, NCAA Division I institutions would provide their student-athletes with the invaluable opportunity to spend more time preparing for their life after sports. In addition, the structure of this course could be helpful in motivating student-athletes to take responsibility for planning their career as a working professional.The materials needed to create this course were a compilation of resources from the academic support services department for student-athletes at a variety of NCAA Division I institutions, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and the Ball State University career services department. The focus of this course was to provide more than just career planning and preparation for student-athletes. The course was designed to challenge student-athletes to develop an identity beyond than their athletic status, abilities, and social network. The final product for this creative project was evaluated by five professionals from the academic support services office for student-athletes from four major universities.