Athletic Retirement: A Transition to A Physically Active Lifestyle? Dr Erin Reifsteck (Pt 2) - Meaningful Sport Series

Physical Activity Researcher

Are former athletes any more physically active than people who never took part in competitive sport? Or is this even an important question to ask? In this second part of our conversation with Dr Erin Reifsteck, we explore the challenges and opportunities that athletes encounter when they leave the structured, competitive sport. Does the meaning of sport change in their lives? The main focus is on the intervention that she has developed with her colleagues to support athletes in transitioning to a physically active lifestyle.

Dr Erin Reifsteck is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Kinesiology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her research has made a substantial contribution to understanding and supporting athletes’ transition to physically active lifestyles.

The research discussed in the episode includes:

“Athletes” and “exercisers”: Understanding identity, motivation, and physical activity participation in former college athletes. Journey From Control to Liberation: Exploring Student-Athletes' Physical Activity Perceptions and Experiences in the Transition Out of Collegiate Sport

"Moving On!" - Transition program for student-athletes moving to a physically active lifestyle can be found here: https://athletesmovingon.org/