Athletic retirement is a much-studied topic, but only recently have researchers started to explore whether sport and physical activity remains part of retired athletes’ lives. Do athletes still find sport and physical activity meaningful pursuits, and if so, how do they change their practice and relationship with them? What kind of identity changes are required? Dr Erin Reifsteck visited the meaningful sport podcast to explore answers to these questions.
In the first part of our conversation, we explore the story behind Erin’s research and key theoretical constructs that have informed her work. Question asked include: are former athletes any more physically active than people who never took part in competitive sport? What are the barriers to being physically active? What kind of identity changes are required to stay active?
Part 1 here:
In the second part, we focused more on her recent qualitative research exploring athletes+ transition experiences, the role of culture in shaping values and meanings of sport, and the “Moving on!” intervention that she has developed with her colleagues to support athletes in transitioning to a physically active lifestyle.
Part 2 here:
The research discussed in the two episode includes:
“Athletes” and “exercisers”: Understanding identity, motivation, and physical activity participation in former college athletes.
Journey From Control to Liberation: Exploring Student-Athletes’ Physical Activity Perceptions and Experiences in the Transition Out of Collegiate Sport
Furthermore, “Moving On!” – Transition program for student-athletes moving to a physically active lifestyle can be found here: https://athletesmovingon.org/
Dr Erin Reifsteck is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Kinesiology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her research has made a substantial contribution to understanding and supporting athletes’ transition to physically active lifestyles.