PLANNING FOR SPORTS RETIREMENT

Financial and vocational preparation

The sports career is finite and short compared to the standard working life. Therefore, retirement planning should not begin at the end, but during the active stage.

It is imperative to encourage dual education and business or vocational interests parallel to sport.

Athletes who invest time in academic training or learning trades have a much smoother and healthier transition.

One success story would be a volleyball player who, while competing professionally, pursues graphic design studies and small freelance projects.

When the time comes for her retirement, she is not facing an abyss, but a career change to a field she already knows and is passionate about.

This preparation reduces anxiety about the future and provides a new source of identity and purpose, avoiding the feeling of "early retirement" at age 30.

Transfer of sports skills to the world of work

A key aspect of retirement psychology is to help the athlete recognize that he or she possesses skills that are highly transferable and valued in the job market, beyond physical prowess.

Skills such as discipline, teamwork skills, resilience in the face of failure, goal setting and working under pressure are assets that companies seek. Think of a retiring rugby team captain.

He may not know accounting, but he knows how to manage difficult personalities, motivate a group toward a common goal and keep his cool in critical situations.

The sports psychologist helps this former athlete "translate" his experience: his ability to analyze opponents becomes strategic business thinking; his dedication to coaching becomes work ethic.

By reframing his experience, the athlete can seek new roles (such as executive coaching or project management) where he can apply these strengths and meet his needs for achievement and esteem in a new context.

Summary

Retirement planning should begin d