Navigating mentally demanding studies and physical sport as a student-athlete is tough. Even tougher, though, is the transition into a life after graduation with or without sport, especially for women.
A few of the complexities of this issue were unpacked at the Beyond the Podium webinar women’s month event, hosted by Maties Sport at Stellenbosch University, and attended by representatives of university sport administration, academics, and high-performance student-athletes.
Providing valuable insights were Professor Cora Burnett, senior researcher of the South African Centre for Olympic Studies and Social Impact; Ilhaam Groenewald, Chief Director of Maties Sport and co-leader of the Maties’ Centre for Sport Leadership; Elmien Cloete, Director of Sport at the University of the Western Cape; Mark Bashe, Senior Manager of Sport at the University of Cape Town; Simone Kruger, International Paralympics medal winner and first-year student; Bianca Augustyn, former Springbok 7s player and current Maties Women’s Rugby Assistant Coach; and Koketso Nelly Mamobolo, Banyana Banyana and UWC football player.
Setting the context for the panel discussion, Prof Burnett shared key findings from her latest research on Life After Sport, which showed the acute need for star athletes holistic support beyond coaching and priming for podium places.
Particularly important to athletes was the need for post-sport career preparation, financial management guidance, and to “be treated as human beings” [as opposed to just medal machines].
Speaking specifically about university sport, she said: “Universities are not responsive and strategic enough to harness what they have – the power and brand force – of student-athletes.”
Supporting this, panel members expressed the need for all stakeholders, from academic staff and administrators to coaches, to recognise the value of student-athletes and to acknowledge the glory and fame they bring to institutions.
“They are our responsibility,” said Bashe. “If we see them simply as athletes while they are with us, they will fall by the wayside. We need to offer more resources for holistic support – and specially to women student-athletes to address the inequality that exists.”
Said Cloete: “Our student-athletes are smart and talented and learn great employable skills while playing sport. We need to create a space and opportunities for their career pathways. We need to bring support into their space and stop assuming they know where to get help.”
To watch the webinar visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Qwvug3PRto and to read more about the study, visit: https://sport.sun.ac.za/news/groundbreaking-research-from-13th-african-games-explores-life-after-sport-for-athletes/
