Abstract

At the height of research on concussions and trauma, this study aims to explore other avenues of student-athlete health by taking a narrative perspective pre- and post-play to question one’s individual sense of wellbeing. Using phenomenological investigation and an exploratory approach, this study delves deeper into the transition of student-athletes into retirement by creating a “life world” narrative. Findings from “Retirement Sucks: Translating the Division 1 Student-Athlete Experience of Retirement” were used to conduct one-on-one interviews with eight participants (three current, five retired). An open-coding method and qualitative phenomenological analysis revealed five themes that collectively explore the phenomena of transition into retirement: 1) retirement as an event; 2) time as a factor; 3) athletic identity; 4) “others” playing a role; and 5) cognitive appraisals. While these findings provide new insights, further research is needed to determine common connections between transition experiences and to identify tools and intersectional skills to help student-athletes prepare for and cope with post-play life across their entire lifespan after retirement.