Abstract:
All elite athletes must, at some point, disengage (i.e. retire/terminate participation) from competitive sports. Regardless of competition level (high school, collegiate or professional), career termination in athletics can be due to a number of circumstances. In most cases, sport retirement is a gradual process, rather than an impulsive decision (Coakley, 2004; Koukouris, 1994). Webb, Nasco, Riley & Headrick (1998) categorized career termination into freely chosen retirements and forced career termination. The majority of past and current athlete career termination research has focused on various reasons for career termination, athlete adjustment, and the repercussions of career termination (Ball, 1976; Haerle, 1975; Hallinan & Snyder, 1988; Hill & Lowe, 1974; Lerch, 1984; Blinde & Stratta, 1992).Often, athletic identity is strongly connected with career termination. Athletic identity has been defined as "the degree to which an individual identifies with the athlete role" (Brewer et al., 1993, 237). Athletic identity, like any other identity (i.e. child, parent, friend, student, etc.), is formed in early childhood and progresses throughout the life span (Harter, 1990; Weiss, 1992; Baillee & Danish, 1992). In the past, athletic identity has been viewed as one single entity. However, more recent research has revealed two distinct dimensions of athletic identity: public (social) and private (self) (Webb et al., 1998). For instance, public or social athletic identity is the athlete's reputation (e.g. "Most people know me as an athlete"), whereas private or self refers to the more internalized, personal aspect of athletic identity (e.g. "Being an athlete is an important part of who I am"). Furthermore, although athletic identity research has evolved in recent years (i.e. the emergence of the public/private dimensions), a great deal of the literature remains focused on the ways in which athletic identity affects individuals at differing participation levels (Harter, 1990; Baillee & Danish, 1992; Weiss, 1992; Nasco & Webb, 2006). At present, there is very little research linking athlete career termination to athletic identity. Although recent research has addressed both career termination and athletic identity (Grove, Lavallee, & Gordon, 1997; Webb et a1.,1998; Brewer, Van Raalte, & Petitpas, 2000), effects of career termination on athletic identity as well as effects of athletic identity on career termination have not yet been assessed. A synthesis of career termination and athletic identity literature is much needed. This comprehensive review of literature will potentially provide valuable information concerning the elements associated with both athlete career termination and athletic identity.