Leaving a few weeks ago his book "When I was Superman," the former professional rugby player Raphael Poulain thought might not meet such a promotion for his first work. His testimony, however, echoes the experience of dozens of former athletes who have not managed early enough or seriously enough after their career. While attempting an acting career, the former player of the French stage is always at RSA …
Carefree, career fantasy, sports drink business … there are many pitfalls to a successful second career. "The Transformation of an elite athlete must be thought as soon as possible, even if the training choices that we made 18 years are not necessarily the same as the desires of end of career," insists Bruno Martini Former goalkeeper of France handball and now general manager of the Paris Handball.
"As soon as possible"
Do nothing in a hurry: the board is now accepted by all players around athlete (coaches, associations, consulting companies to sports, some agents). Many entities are trying to build bridges between the world of sport and of the company. Renault, official partner of the XV of France, has just launched with Proval (union of professional rugby players), a program offering a career to former professional players. One type of initiative more often the values of the sporting world (fighting spirit, a taste for effort …) are highly valued in the business world.
In fact, the discourse is much more difficult to move among young people, especially in sports most media, such as football."Today a young footballer aged 15-16 in the training center already won 500 to 600 euros per month and turned professional at 18, with a nice salary," explains Sébastien Pampanay, director of the Ecole des sports occupations professional, working with football clubs on the training of young athletes. "Even in lesser-known individual sports such as tennis, table tennis a young age of 16 wins in the good clubs from 3500 to 4000 euros net per month. After that, go ask them to pass the exam! "Adds Thierry Maudet, executive director of the National Sports Institute, expertise and performance (INSEP), which trains and prepares high-level individual sports.
Social responsibility of clubs
The less publicized sports such as handball and volleyball are in turn more favorable to a successful conversion.Less concerned with early and huge income, keep young athletes' head on his shoulders. " Especially as their media visibility weaker does not help sponsors and advertising contracts very generous. "Clubs are beginning to understand they have a social responsibility on the support of their post-professional players," said Bruno Martini, 80% of its players are trained parallel.
In rugby, the professionalisation of sport sometimes lose their heads to the younger generations, but those who experienced the period amateur took the lead. With varying success. Kémana Spa, the spa center of Serge Betsen, former International XV of France, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year for lack of sufficient involvement in the management of his company he acknowledges himself.Not enough to scald his brothers studs, "who do not know offline realities professionalism," said Miguel Fernandez, players' agent. " Of the 30 French rugby parties in New Zealand, 14 have a side like Lionel Nallet (mechanical parts), Imanol Harinordoquy (clothing brand) or Vincent Clerc (Team One Group: event and sports marketing).
However, despite the good will, training remains a matter of priorities, and even sacrifices. His 30-year well underway, Bruno Martini had to change twice before finding a club in Nimes framework laid him to spend his degree club manager.
Fault lines as sports
Overall, fault lines affect the earliness and quality of the preparation of a post-career.Whether you are male or female, international sports or not, and in a team sport or individual management of retirement sports varies widely. However, the main difference between the high-profile sports and the more confidential. In the first case, the financial gains will promote a higher awareness of the athlete against the importance of rapidly forming a capital, and form. "In France, only 150 players on the 2000 working professionals do not have to worry financially for a second life project, warns Sébastien Pampanay. However, thinking of his conversion is still not part of the natural gait of a professional football player, unlike other sports where the mentality is different. "
For example, the judoka Décosse Lucie, triple world champion and European champion four of his discipline follows a parallel training as a journalist with the CFJ. A woman in an individual sport, the economy far less developed than that of football or rugby would be aware of any financial potential of his career. But exceptions exist, such as media Mickaël Landreau, footballer and current goalkeeper of the club Lille LOSC, now in training (master of management).
Ultimately, the issue of supervision and training of the athlete according to his discipline are crucial. "There is not a sport, but sports, with different realities, warns of Insep Thierry Maudet. The current problem is that we have cloned the same mode of organization for all disciplines.A gymnast has a volume of training equal or even greater than that of a footballer, to operate in a sport to the economic model does not exist! ". From this point of view, the family and the maturity of the sport often make the difference. "Too many young athletes are not yet aware of these constraints. They dream to come true in their sport, "career" and to live, says the head of school sport. We must make them understand that their responsibility in the field, it should be taken also in life. "
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