Strategizing Beyond the Field: Assessing Transferable Skills and Post-Retirement Career Planning among Young Elite Thai Athletes

Nawarat Chaichan; Supitr  Samahito; Sarayut  Noikasem; Risato   Ando

Authors

Nawarat Chaichan Sport Management, Kasetsart University, Thailand
Supitr Samahito Sport Management, Kasetsart University, Thailand
Sarayut Noikasem Sport Management, Kasetsart University, Thailand
Risato Ando Graduate School of Law, Tohoku University, Japan

Keywords:

Career Transition, Olympic Sports, Skill Transferability in Sports, Post-Retirement Planning, Thai Student Athletes

Abstract

Due to the extensive time dedicated to sports from an early age, many athletes are unable to allocate time for other activities, and thus struggle to plan for post-sport careers. Since 2005, the International Olympic Committee has initiated the Athlete Career Program, and in Thailand, the Thailand Olympic Academy has been providing educational opportunities for Thai athletes since 2017. However, there is a lack of research on transferable skills and life planning after sports retirement specifically targeting young Thai athletes. The objective of this study is to elucidate the relationship between student athletes’ perception of transferable sports skills to explore the application of these skills in their lives after retirement from sports. This study surveyed 92 university student athletes (51 males and 41 females) who participated in 25 Olympic sports at the 30th Manila Southeast Asian Games in 2019. The survey response rate was 100%, and factor analysis and regression analysis were conducted. The results revealed that ‘Social and Professional Competence’ and ‘Collaborative Competence’ are key transferable skills from sports, significantly impacting athletes’ perception of skill transferability and development confidence. This result provides a valuable framework for developing targeted interventions and educational programs aimed at facilitating successful career transitions for athletes.

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