Abstract
Identifying as an athlete gives one a sense of belonging and purpose (Brewer et al., 1993). However, unanticipated and involuntary sport transitions (e.g., deselection, injury) are associated with identity loss and in turn other negative outcomes such as isolation and depression (McGlinchey et al., 2022). More than Sport is an applied intervention that has been successfully implemented to support the sport transitions of professional athletes during retirement (Young et al., 2024; Haslam et al., 2024). The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the feasibility of a More than Sport workshop adapted for youth athletes to support sport career transitions. Utilizing a single intervention group design, 35 competitive ice hockey players (Mage= 14.7, SD = .90) attending a single high school hockey academy participated in the workshop. The workshop included two sessions and consisted of More than Sport content adapted for a youth context. Program feasibility and acceptability were evaluated with a survey and focus group interviews. Descriptive statistics from the post-intervention survey items, anchored from 1 (Disagree) to 5 (Agree), indicated that participants, on average, recommended the workshop to other athletes (M = 4.50, SD = 0.67) and reported that it would be useful in the future (M = 4.31, SD = 0.69). Focus groups data were analyzed using deductive content analysis and indicated support for the workshop content and structure. Youth athletes also shared feedback and their takeaways. This pilot study suggests the feasibility and acceptability of More than Sport in a youth population.
