Abstract

The present volume addresses some of the critical issues that are involved in the development or disruption of a successful career in elite sports with special reference to psycho-social issues and sport psychological as well as social pedagogical interventions or opportunities of support for elite athletes by special assistance. During the past decade more and more emphasis has been given to necessities and opportunities of psychological, pedagocical, and social support with reference to the initiation, development, maintenance, and finishing a career in elite sports and transitional problems. Transition into a career in elite sports, within the sport career, and from the sport career to retirement in a "real" or "normal" life. The phenomenon of dropping out as a premature quit of a high level sports career and possibilities of career counseling especially regarded as a preventive pedagogical intervention have become dominant in this respect. The three sections of this volume focus on these issues. The authors and the topics are: I. Career in Elite Sport: 1. SALMELA, J.H.: Phases and transitions across sport careers; 2. SINCLAIR, D.A./ORLICK, T.: The effects of transition on high performance sport; II. Drop out: 3. PETLICHKOF, L.M.: Dropping out of sport: speculation versus reality; 4. BUSSMANN, G./ALFERMANN, D.: Drop out and the female athlete - A study with track and field athletes; III. Career Counseling: 5. HACKFORT, D./SCHLATTMANN, A.: Career counseling and environmental management for elite athletes; 6. EMRICH, E./ALTMEYER, L./PAPATHANASSIOU, V.: Career counseling in an Olympic Center - a German experience; 7. NAUL, R.: The elite athlete career: Sport pedagogy must counsel social and professional problems in life development. (aus Einleitung und Inhaltsverzeichnis)