Abstract
The purposes of this study were to identify, from a sociological perspective, the main factors involved in the process that a former J-League soccer player overcame the challenges and difficulties over retirement, and to find features that would be informative for athletes facing problems related to retirement from sport. This J-Leaguer became wheelchair-bound after being severely disabled in a traffic accident, and was able to overcome various challenges and difficulties through a career transition to wheelchair basketball. His life history was investigated on the basis of data recorded mainly during interviews. This study was based on the subjective socialization theory, especially Erikson's theory of identity related to subjective action, which is considered to partly overcome the problems associated with contemporary socialization theory, with special reference to the specific significance of individuals who helped the subject to overcome his difficulties.
The difficulties he experienced were related to both retirement and life with a walking disability, the former being in conflict with the subject's strong self-identity as an elite soccer player. The presence of “irreplaceable others”, including his wife who devoted herself to his support and their newborn baby, his sense of responsibility for them, and his pride based on self-identity enabled him to exercise his subjectivity (reflexivity), allowing him to overcome his difficulties. In terms of his career transition to wheelchair basketball, “leading others” and “associates” in a wheelchair basketball club played important roles. When athletes retire as players, the following points are considered important for overcoming their associated difficulties. It is vital that the new change of career is well balanced with the athlete's self-identity. The role of others such as “leading others” is influential in finding a suitable career field. Furthermore, it should not be overlooked that the feelings of athletes that allow them to exercise their subjectivity to overcome their difficulties, “irreplaceable others”, self-identity which is the main source of such inner feelings, and “associates” in a supporting role are all valuable in this respect.
