Analyses of the sports career of youth football players in the transition between the amateur phase and the professional phase

Abstract

This study analyzed the career of athletes in early adulthood that are facing the transition from amateur to professional sport. The aims of this study were: a) raise data related to their formal education; b) identify relevant factors in the sport initiation phase of the athletes; c) characterize their family and social context; d) identify factors that interfere in their career planning actions. A sample of 186 athletes with an average age of 18.46 years old (± 0.82) participated on the study. Two instruments were used for data collection: 1) a 46 question interview based on the Athletic and Post-athletic Questionnaire and the Sports Career Transitions Questionnaire and 2) a semi structured interview. The results indicated that the majority of the players had difficulty to combine studies and training and showed that the sports initiation of these athletes occured on the streets. Their families lie at lower social economic levels and the social relationships of these players have undergone major changes along their careers. The athletes have shown a reasonable level of previous career planning, except for issues related to studies.