The master thesis examine the features of sport career transition in Lithuania. The aim of work was to define main components influencing social adaptation of former athletes. Data was compared with data from “Social Adaptation of Lithuanian Former Athletes” survey made in 1985. Results show that the main factor influencing social adaptation of former athletes is work satisfaction. Data showed that this feature on the other hand is influenced by success of athlete during his career. Comparison of two surveys showed that athletes in Lithuania tend to finish their career being older (31 – 35). The main reasons for career transition stand injuries and age. The main obstacles that athletes are facing during career transition are related to finding new activity and self – realization in it.

Sports career (SC) is a term for the multiyear sports activities of the individual aimed at high sport achievements and self-improvement in sport. The analytical model of sports career considers it as a multiyear process certain stages and transitions. SC were identified: 1) the beginning of sport specialisation; 2) the transition to intensive training in the chosen kind of sport; 3) the transition to high achievement and adult sports; 4) the transition from the culmination to the end of SC and transition to the other professional career. Athletes have to solve „transitional problems“ in order to continue the SC successfully on the next stage. A failure in solving transitional problems leads to a crisis. The research showed that the most influence to choose the main kind of sport had the coach (95%). In the intensive training in the chosen kind of sport all respondents had the aim, after trainings felt tired (75%) and even 89% of respondents complained of injuries. Most of athletes (74%) noted that sometimes needed psychological support in competitions. Mostly in high achievement and adult sports (55%) changed the coach and every fifth athlete not always successfully collaborated with him, and also came into conflict with other members of the group (28%). In this stage was difficult to adjust sport activity and studies, sport activity and leisure, and also sport activity and job. Most coaches pointed that too early finished trainings by these reasons: difficult to adust... [to full text]