Morris, R, Tod, D and Eubank, MR (2016) From Youth Team to First Team: An Investigation into the Transition Experiences of Young Professional Athletes in Football. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. ISSN 1557-251X

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Abstract

Using Wylleman and Lavallee (2004) and Stambulova (2003) models of transition as conceptual frameworks for the current study, we aimed to explore United Kingdom (UK) professional soccer players’ (N = 5) experiences going through a youth-to-senior career transition to first team level, and assess the immediate changes that occur during the move. Few studies have assessed this process, and no studies have focused on assessing the changes that may occur between pre and post transition. Data collection lasted 1 month with players interviewed twice, 2 weeks before, and 2 weeks after their transition to the first team. Data were abductively thematically content analyzed. Prior to transition, players reported high motivation to be successful, but also feeling anxious about the transition to senior sport. Post-transition, players felt more confident about their ability to succeed in senior sport and maintained high levels of motivation to succeed. Family, friends, coaches, and teammates provided emotional, technical, and tangible support to the players throughout the transition, but were also sources of stress for athletes moving to senior sport. These findings suggest ways to assist transitioning athletes, such as the use of buddy systems with senior players.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology on 4 Mar 2016 available online: http://wwww.tandfonline.com/10.1080/1612197X.2016.1152992
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV561 Sports
Divisions:	Sport & Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis
Date Deposited:	21 Jan 2016 15:18
Last Modified:	04 Sep 2021 13:34
DOI or ID number:	10.1080/1612197X.2016.1152992
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/2739

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