Injury-Forced Retirement In Sports

I cannot perceive not continuing to play rugby in the future. Retirement from rugby can be a difficult transition for a player, especially when participation in the game has formed a significant part of their identity and life as a whole (Goffman, 1961, p. 11). When retirements are involuntary such as due to injury or de-selection, Cosh et al (2013) report that athletes typically struggle more with the transition, especially if these terminations are sudden and unexpected (Wylleman et al., 2004). Erpic et al., (2014) advocate that the degree to which an individual identifies with the athlete role the more social adjustments will need to be made post sports career. Injury-forced retirement is considered to be the most distressing (Lotysz &

If an athlete is discovered then their reputation is dishonoured and their career is terminated. This is why doping in sport is unacceptable as the rules of equality in sport are “sacred “(Birrell, 1981) and the ritual interaction of sport is founded on competing under equal conditions (Thing & Ronglan, 2014). Athletes who cheat or break the rules are seen as dishonourable and I would certainly feel that I have not only let the team down but stepped outside the accepted rules (Thing & Ronglan, 2014, p 285) which is socially unjustifiable. Goffman’s view on the world is that in general the actors (rugby players) are not merely amoral, self-interested role players who are busy manipulating others in order to achieve their own ends but are in fact concerned about the morality of their behaviour and how they are perceived in society (Giddens, 1984, p. 70 as cited in Jenkins,

Although there are other distinguished social theorists, much of Goffman’s early work resonates with me and has helped me to understand the factors that contribute to my perception of ‘self’, how I fit in with the Academy, and how I can have a meaningful role in society, have self-worth and gain recognition. The incorporation of an interactionist perspective (Goffman, 1959) within this assignment shows how dominant modes of behaviour are displayed in relation to the core values associated with athletic identity, which helps in the propulsion, and solidification, of a particular notion of ‘self’ that is accepted by significant others such as team mates, coaches, officials and spectators. There is little evidence of systemic integration of social theory in sports coaching as neither sociologists nor psychologists of sport, as yet, have paid sufficient attention to the experiences and dilemmas of athletes especially with regards to athletic retirement. This is a concern to me as I tend to live in the here and now and I will have to develop strategies or seek help if I can no longer play my favourite sport. Life after rugby can be problematic and challenging unless support is offered (Kanemasu and Molnar, 2014) and so more provision needs to be developed to support athletes who are forced into involuntary retirement for their psychological