'Game over': Indigenous Australian sportsmen and athletic retirement

Stronach, M; Adair, D; Taylor, T

'Game over': Indigenous Australian sportsmen and athletic retirement

Stronach, M

Adair, D

Taylor, T

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Australian Aboriginal Studies, 2014, (2), pp. 40 - 59
Issue Date:: 2014-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Stronach, M https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5045-409X	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Adair, D https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7998-3414	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Taylor, T https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8847-7692	en_US
dc.date.issued	2014-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Australian Aboriginal Studies, 2014, (2), pp. 40 - 59	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0729-4352	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/41227
dc.description.abstract	In Australia, three sports in particular - boxing, rugby league and Australian Rules football - have attracted many Indigenous<sup>1</sup> competitors, both in professional and elite amateur ranks. This paper investigates the retirement experiences of Indigenous Australian sportsmen; in doing so, it explores a significant gap in knowledge. There is no body of research into the athletic retirement of elite Indigenous athletes, thus very little is known about how they have prepared for and adjusted to a life after competing in sport. The study analyses the roles and responsibilities of sport organisations in terms of athletic retirement planning, since these bodies arguably have a duty of care to their employees and, in the case of player associations, to their members. The research is underpinned by an Indigenous philosophy known as Dadirri, which emphasises deep and respectful listening, and the concern is to understand policy and practice in respect of athletic retirement. The study concludes that Indigenous Australian sportsmen face complex post-sport challenges due to (a) the primacy of their athletic identity, (b) assumptions about their 'natural' acumen as athletes, (c) the impact of racialised stereotypes, and (d) profound commitments to extended families and communities. Athletic retirement is therefore likely to be particularly challenging for Indigenous sports-people. Consequently, providers of athlete career and education programs need to develop policies and provide resources that cater for the complex transition needs of Indigenous athletes.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Australian Aboriginal Studies	en_US
dc.title	'Game over': Indigenous Australian sportsmen and athletic retirement	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	2	en_US
utslib.for	1699 Other Studies in Human Society	en_US
utslib.for	2103 Historical Studies	en_US
utslib.for	2101 Archaeology	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/e-Press
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Business
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Business/Management Discipline
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	2	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US

Abstract:

In Australia, three sports in particular - boxing, rugby league and Australian Rules football - have attracted many Indigenous¹ competitors, both in professional and elite amateur ranks. This paper investigates the retirement experiences of Indigenous Australian sportsmen; in doing so, it explores a significant gap in knowledge. There is no body of research into the athletic retirement of elite Indigenous athletes, thus very little is known about how they have prepared for and adjusted to a life after competing in sport. The study analyses the roles and responsibilities of sport organisations in terms of athletic retirement planning, since these bodies arguably have a duty of care to their employees and, in the case of player associations, to their members. The research is underpinned by an Indigenous philosophy known as Dadirri, which emphasises deep and respectful listening, and the concern is to understand policy and practice in respect of athletic retirement. The study concludes that Indigenous Australian sportsmen face complex post-sport challenges due to (a) the primacy of their athletic identity, (b) assumptions about their 'natural' acumen as athletes, (c) the impact of racialised stereotypes, and (d) profound commitments to extended families and communities. Athletic retirement is therefore likely to be particularly challenging for Indigenous sports-people. Consequently, providers of athlete career and education programs need to develop policies and provide resources that cater for the complex transition needs of Indigenous athletes.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/41227