La otra cara de la transición de deportista a entrenador: Del deporte semiprofesional al entrenamiento de formación en el marco de la carrera dual.

Abstract

The aim of this doctoral thesis is to explore the transition of semi-professional athletes becoming development coaches within the Spanish athletic context. This topic is approached using a mixed-methods methodology, resulting in two studies: a qualitative research study focused on examining the traditional transition pathway from semi-professional player to coach in the context of football (Study 1: Shift of play); and a second, quantitative study that broadens the scope to include other sports and evaluates career adaptability competencies and how these influence both coaches' mental health and their relationship with athletes (Study 2: Adaptability). In Shift of play, we found that the transition from semi-professional football players becoming development coaches involves a changing process in which individuals shift their focus from being an athlete to establishing themselves as a coach. This process is characterized by three chronological stages: (a) the dream goes away, (b) the Call, and (c) The bench; and a more structural central theme that appears throughout the three stages: (d) a multidimensional trajectory. We also identified a series of common patterns related to facilitators, barriers, initial motivations, and contextual factors within the traditional access pathway. In Adaptability, the results suggest that improvements in the control competency, one of the coach's career adaptability competencies, can positively influence the coach's mental health. Additionally, the competencies of confidence and concern show a positive relationship with the quality of support coaches perceive they provide to their athletes. In this regard, adapting to this transition does not only rely on technical knowledge: although it depends on the characteristics of the sport and context, the development of individual competencies also plays a crucial role. Overall, according to the results of this doctoral thesis, we suggest that the sports system, sustained to a large extent by the work of coaches, should provide appropriate resources that not only improve their working conditions but also support more nuanced and contextually sensitive transition processes. From an applied perspective, this thesis offers recommendations aimed at strengthening both personal and contextual resources to support and facilitate the transition from semi-professional athletes to development coaches.

Date of Award	24 Oct 2025
Original language	Spanish
Awarding Institution	Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
Supervisor	Saul Alcaraz Garcia (Director) & Yago Ramis Laloux (Director)