Leveling up after the game ends

If research forms the strong roots that anchor the Global Sport Institute, education and continuous learning are important branches that are crucial to fulfilling the journey for those who work and play within the world of sport. A person’s initial exposure to sport often happens during their youth in the form of a simple game with no agenda other than enjoyment. From that first spark, whether it ultimately fizzles or starts ablaze, the next steps on their sporting path depend on a myriad of factors: access, mentorship and coaching, environment, culture, and so much more.

We are keenly interested in understanding how the experience of sport for individuals, communities and organizations can be deeply valuable rather than a means to an end product. How can it be nurtured into a catalyst for growth?

Imagining this in terms of a chronological timeline, there are many forks in the road of a sports journey. According to the Aspen Institute, the average child stops participating in sport at age 11. At the college level, the NCAA’s own research data has shown that of the hundreds of thousands of college athletes only a small percentage will make it to a professional level. For those who do, the question is what happens when you’ve poured substantial portions of your physical, mental, and financial resources into a sport and then it suddenly ends?

Along that spectrum, we’ve seen some of our sports heroes go on to have great success in other fields, while others have ‘fallen from grace’ in many different fashions. The Global Sport Institute wants to help identify what preventions and interventions are in order to provide support along the way.

From an organizational standpoint, the journey can be seen through many different lenses. For example, what role and responsibilities should leagues or teams have in terms of care for athletes’ physical and mental health? For governing bodies, how should they respond to calls for action when it comes to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging? For sports businesses, how does an organization balance bottom lines with fan affinity, growing technology, and the expectation to respond to social and political issues?

Through the combination of research, invested and committed partners, and bespoke services, the Global Sport Institute has begun to move sport in a way that it can be greater than the sum of its parts. We will continue our work on developing instruments and methodologies to improve sport outcomes at various levels and in multiple formalities. To this end, we invite diverse stakeholders to collaborate in meaningful ways.

What is the ‘post-sport journey’?

Collegiate and professional athlete transitions can be difficult due to the intense level of identity and connectedness that happens when an individual’s focus has been centered entirely on being an athlete. Education, which could allow an athlete to gain a fuller sense of self, often becomes secondary. We know that the earlier someone transitions away from his or her dream, the more time they have to focus on the next pathway. Similarly, transition is eased for athletes who engage in continuous learning and when a plan is in place before an athletic experience ends. The Global Sport Institute continues to explore ways we can be a resource in this area of work.