To Fall From Athletics Gracefully A Behavioral Approach In Dealing With The Realities of Becoming A...
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Transcript of To Fall From Athletics Gracefully A Behavioral Approach In Dealing With The Realities of Becoming A...
To Fall From
Athletics Gracefully
A Behavioral Approach In Dealing With The Realities of Becoming A Retired Athlete
Possible Causes of Disengagement From
AthleticsInjuryLoss of EligibilityInadequacy
Realities of Athletics As A Profession
1 out of every 235 male high school players will every “start” for a Division I college team.
1 out of every 5,635 high school football players will play for a professional team.
1 out of 46 high school basketball players make a college varsity team.
Out of 100 high school football teams in the U.S., only 1 senior will make it to the NFL
Each year in America, over a half of a million basketball and football athletes are retired from their sport.
1 out of every 2,300 high school basketball players get drafted by the NBA. (Note: On each NBA team, only 2 jobs are available for 30 people attending rookie camps.
Of those athletes that earn college scholarships, graduation rates for college males show:• 35% of the football players
graduate.• 27% of the basketball players
graduate.• 18% of the baseball players
graduate.
What Occurs In The Disengagement Process?
Only half of the males and females studied at the collegiate level claim to be satisfied and fulfilled with their retirement from sport. (Note: No statistics are available on those athletes at the High School level).
A host of psychological difficulties have been
reported. They include:
DepressionObsessive ThoughtsSelf Destructiveness
Periods of Adjustments In Retirement From Athletics
1. Helplessness and Disorientation Phase.• Lacks ability to deal with new
freedoms from structure.• Exhibits certain forms of denial.• Develops unrealistic expectations of
returning to athletics.
2. Reality Phase• Reality turns to anger against the
self.
3. Bargaining Phase• With Coach, God or Self
4. Self Development Phase• Depression subsides• Renewed energy emerges• Explores new alternatives
Note: The Self Development Phase may be accomplished on the surface.• Athletes must choose to examine
their frustrations• They must seek new ways of
modifying behaviors• Negative thoughts will continue to
be rehearsed or imprinted in the mind.
What Can Sports Administrators Do To Help Athletes Retire
Gracefully?
Early, honest, realistic education is needed to address the process of disengagement.
Teach skills to cope with disengagement both psychological
and physical.
Concepts of letting things go and looking forward toward the future.
Channeling of physical energies into some other forms of recreation
Career counseling centered around career orientation and employment
opportunities after athletics.