Sports career versus educational career

Abstract

Premises. Athletes are dealing with additional challenges in the management of double careers, having to dedicate countless hours to sports while respecting the educational, academic rigors, which generates the neglect of one of activities at the expense of the other. Objectives. The main objective of this study was to investigate the way of approach sports career and training, as priority activities carried out in parallel. Subjects and methods. The sample included a total of 300 performance athletes at the representative sports clubs of the country's N-V region (Bihor County, Bistriţa-Năsăud, Cluj, Maramureş, Satu Mare, Sălaj). In conducting the study the method of investigation was used by administering a questionnaire. Results. The analysis of recorded data shows that the subjects of the first performance value echelon (N=176, M=2.78+1.02) allocate less time to the school preparation, compared to the subjects of the second echelon (N=124, M=3.05+1.19), positioning sports career as a priority activity. Female athletes show greater concern for study and training, compared to male athletes (χ 2=16.92, df.=1, p=0.000). Conclusions. The study conclusions emphasize the trend of athletes working in higher performance echelon, to focus mainly on sports success, as well as a more active concern of female subjects for study and training.

Keywords

• athletes
• sports career
• educational career
• double career