A quantitative study of the changes and difficulties during the transition from junior to senior elite athlete

Although considered one of the most challenging transitions during an athletic career, few empirical data is available on the junior-senior transition. Using the Holistic Athletic Career Model (HACM; Wylleman, De Knop, & Reints, 2011) as conceptual framework this study aimed at identifying the changes and difficulties athletes experience at athletic, psychological, psychosocial, academic/vocational, and financial level when transitioning from junior to senior elite athlete. A questionnaire based on the HACM, the Transition Monitoring Survey (Stambulova, Franck, & Weibull, 2012) and on 27 interviews (10 high performance directors, 10 athletes who are still active and 7 athletes who already dropped out), was used to collect data from athletes one to three years after their transition from junior to senior level. Preliminary results indicate that athletes experience changes at each of the five levels of development including a higher level of and more rivalry at competition, changing lifestyle, less good relationship with friends, more workload at academia etc. The challenges faced by athletes are expected to diminish in time (e.g. from senior year 1 to senior year 3). Recommendations on support provision to athletes facing the junior-senior transition include support after athletes finish elite sport school, preparing athletes mentally (e.g. patience, time management) and giving them sufficient support at academic level.