Literature by the same author
plus at Google Scholar

Bibliografische Daten exportieren
 

Key Factors in Career Development and Transitions in German Elite Combat Sport Athletes

Title data

Behr, Kristin ; Kuhn, Peter:
Key Factors in Career Development and Transitions in German Elite Combat Sport Athletes.
In: Martial Arts Studies. Vol. 7 (2019) . - pp. 19-35.
ISSN 2057-5696
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18573/mas.73

Official URL: Volltext

Project information

Project title:
Project's official title
Project's id
A Fighter's Life
No information
Karrieren im olympischen Kampfsport
No information

Project financing: Eigenfinanzierung

Abstract in another language

The purpose of this study was to systematically identify key factors that facilitate and constrain career development and career transitions. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted and analysed using both deductive and inductive analysis. The sample was purposefully composed of 14 active (n=7) and retired (n=7) male (n=8) and female (n=6) international level athletes, including Olympic gold medallists and World and European champions with 120 medals won between them. Findings relate to difficulties and critical events in athletes’ attitudes toward their career development. Six key factors were identified: second pillar, higher-level competition experience at a young age, coach, federation, setbacks, and way of coping with career termination, out of which three factors (second pillar, higher-level competition experience at young age, way of coping with career termination) were theory-based and the other three factors (coach, federation, setbacks) were collected from the transcript material. We concluded that an athletic career is a highly complex, multi-layered, and individual process. Significant differences were found between statements of student-athletes and sports soldiers concerning the second pillar and financial support. Participation at senior competitions at an early age is required for a smooth transition to a world-class level. Other aspects, such as improved communication in federations and career assistance programmes, adaption of foreign coaches to the German sport system, and supporting activities of universities have to be investigated in further research.

Further data

Item Type: Article in a journal
Refereed: Yes
Keywords: A fighter’s life; athletes’ careers; key factors; combat sports; elite sport; interview
Institutions of the University: Faculties > Faculty of Cultural Studies > Department of Sport Science > Chair Sport Science III - Social and Health Sciences in Sport
Faculties
Faculties > Faculty of Cultural Studies
Faculties > Faculty of Cultural Studies > Department of Sport Science
Result of work at the UBT: Yes
DDC Subjects: 100 Philosophy and psychology > 150 Psychology
300 Social sciences > 300 Social sciences, sociology and anthropology
700 Arts and recreation > 790 Sports, games, entertainment
Date Deposited: 25 Jan 2019 09:25
Last Modified: 23 Jan 2024 08:15
URI: https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/46987