A case for change in how we refer to dual career athletes: a person first approach

Rationale/Purpose: Dual Career Athletes (DCA) combine education, training, or work with a sporting career within broader sports management and educational environments. A holistic approach embraces the DCA as a “person first, athlete second”. This study examines the literature regarding DCA stereotype, labelling, identity, and wellbeing, and proposes a change in how we refer to DCAs, to person(s) engaging in dual career (PEDC). Design/methodology/approach: Using social identity theory (SIT) and self-categorisation theory (SCT) we discuss the use of person-first language regarding PEDCs. Three key areas are considered; PEDC stereotype; PEDC identity development and PEDC wellbeing within their sporting and educational environments. Findings: PEDCs can adopt unidimensional athletic identities and experience stereotype with potentially negative implications for DC. PEDCs face challenges impacting wellbeing, exacerbated by narrow identity development and stereotype with low tendencies for help seeking. Labels can act as cues in stereotype and identity formation and wellbeing promotion. Practical Implications: It is proposed that the term PEDC should be adopted by researchers, those involved in sports management structures, academic personnel within educational institutions, parents and peers. Research contribution: : The study supports the holistic, person first approach to DC and proposes a change in how we refer to people engaging in DC.