The Dual Career Management Course is a specialised training programme designed to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills required to support elite athletes transitioning to life after sport, with a strong emphasis on mental health, wellbeing, and employability. Developed within the framework of the Erasmus+ PORTAL project, this course focuses on the complex and often challenging process of athletic retirement.
The PORTAL Transition Officer training programme offers a comprehensive and practical learning experience for professionals working in athlete support, including those in sport psychology, coaching, education, and career counselling.
Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the athlete transition process, recognising that retirement from sport is not a single event but a dynamic and often prolonged experience that can involve significant emotional, social, and professional changes. The course explores both voluntary and involuntary retirement scenarios.
Key areas covered in the course include:
The course also provides practical tools and methodologies, such as wellness assessments, life planning exercises, routine building, and support network mapping, enabling Transition Officers to apply their knowledge in real-world contexts.
By the end of the programme, participants will be fully prepared to act as Transition Officers Post-Athletic Career (TOPs), capable of delivering personalised, ethical, and effective support that enhances athletes’ wellbeing and facilitates a successful transition into education, employment, and broader life opportunities.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
