TY - JOUR
T1 - FEPSAC position statement: Athletes’ dual careers in the European context
AU - Stambulova, Natalia
AU - Wylleman, Paul
AU - Torregrossa, Miquel
AU - Cecić Erpič, Saša
AU - Vitali, Francesca
AU - De Brandt, Koen
AU - Khomutova, Anastasiya
AU - Ruffault, Alexis
AU - Ramis, Yago
N1 - Funding Information:
Further research on scenarios of student–athletes (Linnér et al., 2021b) led to an empirical taxonomy and an updated definition of DC scenarios. Four types of DC scenarios have been identified: (a) maintain sport and studies with several shifts in daily life; (b) maintain study when sport should be prioritized (e.g., important competitions); (c) maintain sport when education should be prioritized (e.g., finalizing degree project while continue to train/compete); and (d) maintain personal life (e.g., combining romantic relationship or relocation with sport and studies). Derived from this taxonomy, DC scenarios are defined as “pre-transition situations constituting a combination of student–athletes’ circumstances that compromises their DC balance. DC scenarios are characterized by coinciding commitments across developmental levels, and student–athletes need personal resources, support, and coping strategies to maintain their optimal DC balance” (Linnér et al., 2021b p. 53).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors
PY - 2024/3
Y1 - 2024/3
N2 - The aim of this FEPSAC Position Statement is to summarize current knowledge about athletes’ dual careers (DCs) in the European context and propose recommendations for future DC research, practice, and policy. Inspired by the European Union’s Guidelines on Dual Careers of Athletes (European Commission, 2012), researchers, practitioners, and policy makers collaborated over the last decade to create the European DC discourse as a context-informed and negotiated body of DC knowledge. In this paper, we proceed from analyzing this body of knowledge using recent review papers and European DC psychological research projects to formulating seven postulates summarizing DC research findings on factors influencing athletes in their striving for DC excellence. These factors include (1) context, (2) pathways and transitions, (3) challenges, (4) resources and coping, (5) support and empowerment, (6) student–athletes’ mental health, and (7) DC development environments. In the final section, we acknowledge the contributions of European DC discourse in serving athletes in their pursuit of DC excellence and European DC culture. We also provide a critical discussion on DC knowledge gaps and, on behalf of FEPSAC, offer recommendations for DC research, practice, and policy in Europe.
AB - The aim of this FEPSAC Position Statement is to summarize current knowledge about athletes’ dual careers (DCs) in the European context and propose recommendations for future DC research, practice, and policy. Inspired by the European Union’s Guidelines on Dual Careers of Athletes (European Commission, 2012), researchers, practitioners, and policy makers collaborated over the last decade to create the European DC discourse as a context-informed and negotiated body of DC knowledge. In this paper, we proceed from analyzing this body of knowledge using recent review papers and European DC psychological research projects to formulating seven postulates summarizing DC research findings on factors influencing athletes in their striving for DC excellence. These factors include (1) context, (2) pathways and transitions, (3) challenges, (4) resources and coping, (5) support and empowerment, (6) student–athletes’ mental health, and (7) DC development environments. In the final section, we acknowledge the contributions of European DC discourse in serving athletes in their pursuit of DC excellence and European DC culture. We also provide a critical discussion on DC knowledge gaps and, on behalf of FEPSAC, offer recommendations for DC research, practice, and policy in Europe.
KW - Dual career excellence
KW - Dual career development environments
KW - European dual career culture
KW - European dual career discourse
KW - Holistic perspective on athletes’ development
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85181254607&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102572
DO - 10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102572
M3 - Article
SN - 1469-0292
VL - 71
JO - Psychology of Sport and Exercise
JF - Psychology of Sport and Exercise
M1 - 102572
ER -