Life after sport? Examining life skill transfer following withdrawal from sport and compulsory physical education

Abstract

Researchers have found convincing data to suggest sport is a suitable environment for adolescents to develop intrapersonal and interpersonal life skills. However, there is little evidence suggesting that young females transfer skills learned in sport into other life domains. The aims of this study were to explore whether young women who have withdrawn from sport believe they have developed life skills and to explore the process of transferability across life domains. We employed a qualitative descriptive methodology and collected semi-structured interview data from eight females who had recently withdrawn from the sport. The analysis comprised an inductive and deductive approach and culminated in 61 basic codes and three higher order themes that linked to the study objectives. Results showed that participants believed that they had developed life skills, and life skills were maintained after withdrawal from their sport. The factors that contributed to the perceived transfer of life skills from sport to another life domain comprised an experience in their sport that were memorable, experiential learning, appraisal of the event(s) as valuable, and awareness of the usefulness of the skill outside of sport. Findings add support to existing life skills research while adding insight into the process of perceived transfer of life skills from sport to another life domain in a population of female former sports participants.