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Looking back across her illustrious career, Shelley Rudman, Winter Olympic silver medallist and World Academy of Sport Ambassador, reflects on maintaining her studies while succeeding on the gruelling world cup circuit of skeleton bobsleigh.
She strongly believes in the importance of pursuing a dual career in order to combine sport and academics instead of sacrificing one or the other.
According to Rudman: “Having a dual career means that student-athletes can have completely different groups of friends, which is brilliant for wellbeing, mindset and health.”
Socialising with other students who are also not fellow athletes can positively influence student-athletes who all need a break from their sport from time to time.
“A positive self-identity fuels good mental health, which aids highest level sporting performance.”
A dual career approach has become integral for student-athletes to enhance and extend their athletic careers. This in part is also explained through improved mental health as this approach influences how people perceive themselves, or their self-identity.
As stated by Murphy, Petitpas & Brewer (1996)*, a positive self-identity fuels wellbeing through mental health, which aids sporting performance at the highest-level. This means that student-athletes can think, focus and respond quicker to situations, as well as being more resilient to challenges or setbacks.
Conversely, those who have poor self-identities often view themselves in one role or through one aspect of who they are, which can be described as “identity foreclosure”. Murphy, Petitpas & Brewer identify in their research that such siloed views may cause a loss of perspective and may lead to impaired acquisition of career decision making skills along with delayed career development.
“Pursuing a dual career is also very beneficial for graduates.”
Therefore, this provides a strong basis for student-athletes as well as mature athletes to maintain a balanced life not only to achieve improved sport performance, but also to safeguard their inevitable transition from international sport to post competition careers.
Pursuing a dual career is also very beneficial for graduates. When looking for a job after their sporting career, athletes who combine sport and education have the advantage of not having any gaps in their curriculum vitae.
Rudman confirms: “It shows that student-athletes have been proactive throughout their [sport] career. They will have higher chances on the job market. The bonus about continuing with an education throughout a sporting career is that when they do come to retire, it is quite a smooth process.”
The World Academy of Sport and Federation University have specifically designed the Career-Related Studies, International Sport Management (CRS, ISM). This is offered within the framework of the IB Career-related programme for student-athletes interested in a dual career path or passionate about sport and see it as a potential career pathway.
This remotely-delivered course has been developed through identifying the increasing demand from athletes to be more dual-career minded and the need from industry professionals for more flexible study options to progress within the sports industry.
“I’m learning something I really like but also the business behind it.”
Additionally, the burgeoning opportunities for exciting careers in the sport sector allow students to gain a head start through such an internationally structured programme.
Masato Takeshi, student-athlete at Sha Tin College in Hong Kong, is part of the first cohort of CRS, ISM students. His favourite aspect about the course is that all the material is posted online so that he can learn at his own pace.
Being a student-athlete with a strong passion for the world of sports, Takeshi enjoys the opportunity to learn about what is happening behind the scenes: “I’m learning something I really like, which is sports, but also the business behind it, how it all works, how athletes develop, etc. It gives me a better understanding of the sports industry, both as a student and an athlete.”
Takeshi would like to continue his education at university. With a head start by already completing some University degree courses through the CRS, he comments: “This will give [me] a competitive advantage when applying for university courses.”
Some potential opportunities available in the sports industry after graduation are immense and can be grouped in five main categories:
- Athlete Management
- Development & Education
- Event Management
- Sports Administration
- Sports Marketing & Communications
Dr Sue Brown, director of international sport management at Federation University, adds: “What people often do not see in major and mega events is the vast intersection of industries required for the delivery of such complex events. For example, the Olympic and Paralympic Games have a full-time workforce of around 10,000 in its final stages, contractors of up to 200,000 and a volunteer workforce of 50,000. Every possible sector imaginable is drawn on for the delivery of such events.”
If you would like to know more about dual career pathways, WAoS Ambassador Shelley Rudman or the CRS, International Sport Management course offered to IB World Schools, please visit https://istudy.sport/ or you can contact Celestin Carroz at ccarroz@worldacademysport.com
*Murphy, G. M., Petitpas, A. J., & Brewer, B. W. (1996). Identity foreclosure, athletic identity, and career maturity in intercollegiate athletes. The Sport Psychologist.