Which sports pose the biggest challenges when moving from junior to adult?
The transition from junior to senior levels in sports is typically regarded as the most challenging phase in an athlete’s career — it’s typically make or break time. This period occurs between the ages of 16 and 23, where the body, for the most part, has fully formed, and physicality and hormones begin to peak.
However, the mental aspect is still new to juniors. This is what makes people choose a £3 deposit casino compared to sports wagering is extremely high. It’s also during this transition where they discover how they deal with the psychological pressures of being a sportsperson.
Tennis transition challenges
The junior-to-senior transition in tennis is where much of the money is spent on academies, where families understand that they will soon know whether their child is going to make it professionally, as a job. This puts an increasing amount of pressure on the tennis player each year that passes, hoping to eventually get a return on their parents investment.
Physically, young athletes must learn to adapt to faster ball speeds and longer matches, because in the years prior, their opponents will have been physically weaker. The fast developments of the human body at this age means that technique is playing catch-up, as it is constantly adjusting to faster serves. Decision-making must now be faster and concentration is demanded for longer.
The professional tennis calendar can span 11 months, and this means extensive travel and a rigorous schedule that can be overwhelming for transitioning players. As young players reach the ages of 18, this demanding schedule can conflict with growing social lives. In other words, the opportunity cost of sticking to their schedule grows larger.
Combat Sports Transition Challenges
Combat sports like judo and boxing present their own set of challenges during the junior-to-senior transition. Many children benefit from the “big fish in a small pond” situation, but this soon changes as all opponents have now physically matured; meaning they no longer benefit from pubescent arbitrage.
Rules begin to change, too. Some combat sports protect the child’s head when sparring, only for those protections to erode as they begin to shift to adult competitions. For some competitors, the introduction of weight classes may actually benefit them, as it may level the playing field. But, injuries are rife in combat sports due to the demands placed on joints and explosivity, and these injuries become far more common as you enter adulthood.
Athletics challenges
In athletics events, transitioning from junior to senior levels has some logistical and financial hurdles alongside the heightened performance expectations. Athletes often struggle with access to training facilities, though this can depend on which country they’re living in. while the US has many scholarships, much of the world makes it difficult to afford full-time focus on being an athlete, meaning they now have to juggle it with a job.
The physiological demands also increase substantially during this transition; while some athletes peak early due to natural talent or physical development, others require years of training to reach senior-level standards. This is the age where you’re figuring out which category you may fall into.
Media scrutiny adds a unique layer of pressure for former junior champions, who are expected to replicate their past successes. This was also true of Olympic boxers, with James DeGale being a good example of a young man winning Gold, having lots of pressure placed on him, only to then struggle in his professional career.
Early-specialization sports E.g. Gymnastics
Early-specialization sports such as gymnastics and figure skating have a slightly different transition period, in which peak performance can often be during teenage years. These sports lean into the advantages of a more flexible, nimble body, meaning that athletes enter their career peaks much earlier. This can lead to injuries and a generally shorter career, as well as burnout at an early age.
In some ways, the transition seems easier, because such sacrifices come at an age where they know no different. Though, this doesn’t mean the costs and disrupted education doesn’t exist. In fact, it can be more damaging. But, upon leaving the sport (which, again, occurs earlier than others sports), athletes can be faced with an identity crisis, as they were never provided an opportunity to develop other interests.
Common factors across all sports
Across all sports, there are some universal challenges. Primarily, it’s the psychological challenges that play a major role, where athletes need to begin developing coping mechanisms, self-belief, and an unwavering competitiveness. Getting help from a psychologist early on is important, as the alternative is often to rely on the parents’ mentorship. This can go wrong, as in many cases the parents places too much pressure and expectation on the child and isn’t equipped to teach them coping mechanisms.
Tennis is a great example of a sport that has exponentially increasing demands during the transition to adulthood; from physicality and mentality to financial burdens. This highlights the reality of how it’s not always the best that “makes it” during this time, but it’s the best within a group that are fortunate enough to receive the correct emotional, financial and coaching support.
