Institutional Obligations in the Athletic Retirement Process

The power-dependency relationship that exists in the athletic context is exarnined relative to the obligations the establishment / institution has both during the athlete's playing days and in preparing the athlete to retire from high level competition and assume a nonathletic career. A deontological plurality of obligations for the athletic establishment is outlined. Autonomy, beneficence, and nonmaleficence are examined as the specific moral imperatives necessary for the institution to aid in the development of human and not just athletic resources through the athletic medium. Specific strategies that could enhance the commitment of athletics to developing the life-skills and attitudes necessary for the athlete's transition to the after-sport life are also discussed.