Education Commons^™

An Intervention To Support Collegiate Student-Athletes In The Transition To Meaningful Lifetime Physical Activity, Melinda Smith, Diane L. Gill, Erin J. Reifsteck

HNES Educator Scholarship

Former student-athletes (SAs) experience unique barriers to maintaining their physical activity, such as loss of team support, less motivation without specific goals, and identity-related changes. Informed by a self-determination theory framework, the authors developed a 6-week Pilates-based intervention to support the physical and psychological wellness of SAs by fostering self-determined motivation and basic psychological needs satisfaction as they make the transition to physically active alumni. In this case study, the authors outline the development and implementation of the program with final-year SAs (N = 12) at a Division III institution. Feasibility was demonstrated through high adherence and positive participant …

Moving Into An Active Future: Supporting Lifetime Physical Activity For Student-Athletes, Melinda Smith, Erin Reifsteck, Diane Gill

HNES Educator Scholarship

-Recognize that student-athletes face unique challenges in transitioning to lifetime physical activity beyond college athletics.

-Collaborate with university athletics departments to facilitate transition programs for student athletes in their final year to provide an opportunity for open discussion and goal setting for the future.

-Connect student-athletes with community resources during their transition out of college.

-Provide former student-athletes with opportunities to experience new forms of physical activity within supportive group settings.