Reasons for ending sports careers in kickboxers

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PhD, Professor F.V. Salugin1, 2
1Omsk State Medical University, Omsk
2Omsk Armored Engineering Institute, Omsk

Keywords: sports career, career termination, kickboxing, sports.

Research Objective: To investigate the reasons for career termination among highly qualified kickboxers.

Methods and Research Organization: The study was conducted at higher education institutions in Omsk (Omsk State Medical University, Siberian State Automobile and Highway University, and Omsk Academy of Law and Economics). The "Reasons for Sports Career Termination" methodology by N.L. Ilyina was used to analyze career termination among kickboxers. The study involved 106 athletes aged 19–22 (52 kickboxers and 54 athletes engaged in other combat sports).

Results and Discussion: The findings indicate that the majority of kickboxers (75%) believe there are no significant reasons to terminate their careers. Minor reasons were cited by 15% of respondents.
Equal proportions (5% each) identified primary and secondary reasons for career termination.

Primary reasons: Difficulty balancing studies and training, conflicts with coaches, injuries, and loss of interest in sports.

Secondary reasons: Financial dissatisfaction, poor team dynamics, emerging new interests, and family formation.

Athletes from other combat sports cited similar primary reasons, with additional emphasis on age-related performance decline and insufficient competition opportunities. The lack of competitions was noted as a factor reducing competitive readiness, experience, and adaptability.

Secondary reasons included:

  • Lack of self-confidence
  • Frequent travel for training camps and family dissatisfaction
  • Age-based competition restrictions

Conclusions: The primary reason for career termination across both groups was conflicts with coaches. Among secondary reasons, poor team communication and lack of family support were predominant.

References 

  1. Dergach, E. A., Osipov, A. Yu., Zavyalov, D. A., & Nagovitsyn, R. S. (2021). Snizhenie riska ukhoda molodykh sportsmenov iz sporta vysshikh dostizheniy na osnove komp'yuternogo prognozirovaniya [Computer forecasting to reduce risk of retirement from elite sports among junior athletes]. Teoriya i Praktika Fizicheskoy Kultury, 2, 29.
  2. Malakh, O. N. (2021). Prichiny i trudnosti zaversheniya sportivnoy kar'ery studentami-sportsmenami [Reasons and difficulties of sports career termination among student-athletes]. Pedagogicheskiy IMIDZH [Pedagogical IMAGE], 15(4), 437–445. https://doi.org/10.32343/2409-5052-2021-15-4-437-445