När det svåraste steget ska tas ges det minsta stödet : - En studie om karriärövergång från junior till senior i en elitfotbollsförening

Sammanfattning: The main purpose of this study is to examine the career transition from youth to senior in an elite football club based on both an organizational level and individual perspective. The survey is a case study of Östers IF, where both organizational, team representatives and players have been interviewed and club documents have been examined.   The result has been analyzed based on Stambulova's (2003) modified Sports career transition model and Martindale, Collins and Daubney (2005) factors regarding good talent development environments. Previous research (Stambulova 2009) has shown that the career transition from youth to senior is one of the most difficult transitions in an sport career and it can take up to four years to complete. However, a previous study by Morris, Tod and Oliver (2015) shows that clubs actively working with a career transition program have a better transition outcome and are more likely to succeed to get more players to step up as elite players.   The result of this study shows, among other things, that Östers IF lacks a career transition program and that the club lacks a clear working model that permeates the entire organization, from youth to senior. There is a well-developed player education plan in the academy, but a similar plan is lacking in the senior-team. The result also shows that the academy and senior team appear to live in two separate worlds with different approaches for exampel regarding  the motivational climate which seems to make the transition difficult. The players' experiences about their existence in the academy are generally positive. At the same time, the players wish for support during the career transition varies. However, several players emphasize the importance of having someone or some people responsible to follow up the young players over time. To get to play at  senior level also seems important, and several players have the opinion that an U21 team is a great way to experience senior football and more experienced players.