Projects per year
Personal profile
Expertise
Sofie is currently working as a doctoral researcher at the Department of Movement and Sport Sciences (MOSS), which is part of the Faculty of Sport Science and Physiotherapy. Sofie is an active member of the research group Sport Psychology and Mental Support (SPMB) of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).
Sofie graduated at the VUB in 2016 as Master of Science in Physical Education and Movement Sciences (minor: Sportmanagement) and obtained an additional Master of Science in Management in 2017.
In her doctoral dissertation - under the supervision of Prof. Paul Wylleman & Dr. Koen De Brandt - Sofie investigates the challenges, barriers, and resources influencing elite athletes' dual career pathway 'elite sport and employment' and their transition to a post-athletic career by entering the job market. In parallel, Sofie is involved in two Erasmus+ projects that focus on (1) optimizing elite athletes' competencies during their dual 'elite sport and employment' career pathway and (2) enabling the transition of elite athletes into a post-athletic career: Be a Winner In elite Sport and Employment before and after athletic Retirement (B-WISER; 2017-2018) and Mind the Gap (2018-2020). Both projects are co-funded by the Erasmus+ Sport programme of the European Commission.
Education/Academic qualification
Economic and Social Sciences, Master in Management, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Sep 2016 → Jul 2017
Physical Education & Movement Sciences, Master in Sports Management, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Sep 2011 → Jul 2016
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Network
Projects
- 2 Finished
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EUPOM26: B-WISER – Be a Winner in Elite Sport and Employment before and after athletic Retirement (B-WISER).
Wylleman, P., De Brandt, K., Aurousseau, M., Skenazi, A., Defruyt, S. & Smismans, S.
1/01/17 → 31/12/18
Project: Fundamental
Research output
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The impact of COVID-19 on Flemish athletes' lives
De Brandt, K., Kegelaers, J. J., Wylleman, P., Defruyt, S., Smismans, S. & Taelman, K., 2021, (In preparation) In : Frontiers in Psychology.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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Competencies matter: A practical approach to the development of student-athletes and support providers’ competencies: During the symposium "Optimizing talented and elite athletes’ dual career pathways: From research to evidence-based practices"
Defruyt, S., De Brandt, K., Wylleman, P. & Smismans, S., 22 Sep 2020, Abstract book of the 2020 Yokohama Sport Conference (virtual conference). Japan Society of Physical Education, Health and Sport ScienceResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Meeting abstract (Book) › Research
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Elite athletes on the job market: A competitive advantage?
Smismans, S., Wylleman, P., De Brandt, K. & Defruyt, S., Dec 2020, Vereniging voor Bewegings- en Sportwetenschappen 25e Symposium. Boone, J. (ed.). Vereniging voor Bewegings- en Sportwetenschappen, p. 7-7 1 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Meeting abstract (Book) › Research
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From elite sport to the job market: Development and initial validation of the Athlete Competency Questionnaire for Employability (ACQE)
Smismans, S., Wylleman, P., De Brandt, K., Defruyt, S., Vitali, F., Ramis, Y., Torregrosa, M., Lobinger, B., Stambulova, N. & Cecic-Erpic, S., 2020, (Accepted/In press) In : Cultura, Ciencia y Deporte.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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How should athletes be supported before, during and after athletic retirement? Moving from an athletic-centred needs analysis to practical guidelines for career support stakeholders: Final report for the IOC Olympic Studies Centre Advanced Olympic Research Grant Programme
Wylleman, P., Smismans, S., Defruyt, S., De Brandt, K., Kegelaers, J. J. & Blijlevens, S., Jul 2020, The IOC Olympic Studies Centre. 55 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report › Research
Open Access
Prizes
Activities
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Online Career Support Symposium
Simon Defruyt (Organiser), Sofie Smismans (Organiser), Paul Wylleman (Chair), Koen De Brandt (Chair)1 Dec 2020Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar
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Masterclass "Psychology in Football"
Sofie Smismans (Participant)23 Jan 2020Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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Mind the gap: closing the gap between the end of the professional soccer career and entering the labour market
Sofie Smismans (Presenter), Paul Wylleman (Contributor), Simon Defruyt (Contributor)16 Jul 2019Activity: Talk or presentation › Talk or presentation at a conference
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The added value of employing active and former elite athletes: An employer’s perspective
Sofie Smismans (Presenter), Koen De Brandt (Contributor), Simon Defruyt (Contributor), Paul Wylleman (Contributor)17 Jul 2019Activity: Talk or presentation › Talk or presentation at a conference
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VUB PhD CUP: Pre-selections DsH
Sofie Smismans (Speaker)24 Apr 2019Activity: Talk or presentation › Talk at a public lecture/debate
Thesis
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A holistic perspective on the vocational development of active and retired elite athletes
Author: Smismans, S., 2021Supervisor: Wylleman, P. (Promotor), De Brandt, K. (Promotor) & Vitali, F. (External person) (Advisor)
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis
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De kijk van trainers op topsporters met een duale carrière
Author: Moens, V., De Brandt, K. & Smismans, S., 2020Supervisor: De Brandt, K. (Promotor) & Smismans, S. (Advisor)
Student thesis: Master's Thesis
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Een exploratieve analyse van de relatie tussen stadioninvesteringen en sportief/financieel succes in het voetbal
Author: Smismans, S., 2017Supervisor: Dooms, M. (Promotor)
Student thesis: Master's Thesis
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Redenen waarom topsporters zich al dan niet voorbereiden op de transitie naar de post-atletische carrière
Author: Gevaert, M., De Brandt, K. & Smismans, S., 2020Supervisor: De Brandt, K. (Promotor) & Smismans, S. (Advisor)
Student thesis: Master's Thesis
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Sport en detentie: Een kwaliteitsanalyse van het voetbalaanbod in Vlaamse gevangenissen
Author: Smismans, S., Van Loock, A. & Derom, I., 2016Supervisor: Derom, I. (Promotor)
Student thesis: Master's Thesis