Elite athletes retirement has been conceptualized in a number of ways including voluntary versus involuntary retirement  (Fairlie, Stanley, George, Sereda, & Mosewich, 2019)and push versus pull factors of retirement (Dimoula, Torregrosa, Psychountaki, & Fernandez, 2013) to elite athletes’ retirement transition . Voluntary retirement is characterized by athlete’s free will decision to retire from competitive  sport  (D'Angelo, Reverberi, Gazzaroli, & Gozzoli, 2017; Fairlie et al., 2019) while involuntary retirement is described as forcefully withdrawing from competitive sport due to factors such as injury and deselection (Kaul, 2017; Lagimodiere & Strachan, 2015). Elite athlete careers are  short as most elite athletes can withdraw from competitive sport in their late 20s or 30s (Wylleman & Reints, 2010).

Botswana and other developing countries are some of the least studied countries in the world (Tshube & Feltz, 2015). This insufficient research on elite athletes’ retirement transition in sport psychology has prompted some international journals (e.g.,International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology) to dedicate special issue publication to emerging/ less studied countries. The purpose of the special issue was to stimulate research in low- and middle-income countries such as Botswana through mentorship. Additionally, organizations such as the International Society of Sport Psychology have encouraged emerging countries to support  research on athletes career development (Stambulova, Ryba, & Henriksen, 2020). It is, therefore, important for this study to examine retirement and retirement transition amongst elite athletes in Botswana. The study contributes to limited literature on elite athlete’s retirement transition in Botswana and the region. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of retirement on elite athletes’ post-sport career transition and experiences in Botswana.

In order to answer the stated research questions, consistent with similar studies that examine elite athletes’ retirement transition experiences, a descriptive phenomenology design will be used to guide this study. Descriptive phenomenology studies are empirical and focuses on individual experiences (Sparkes & Smith, 2014; Wagner, Botha, & Mentz, 2012). A number of researchers in sport psychology 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(Crust, Keegan, Piggott, & Swann, 2011; Ryba, 2008; Saville & Bray, 2016; Sparkes & Smith, 2012), and particularly transition studies (Brown, Webb, Robinson, & Cotgreave, 2018) have noted that phenomenology studies accord the researcher a deep understanding of participants lived experiences about a phenomenon. Phenomenology approach is influenced by inductive approach that emphasizes on texture and richness (Creswell, 2014). Phenomenology studies commits researchers to epistemological inquiry that examines the study of nature and meaning of things (Saldana, 2011; Sparkes & Smith, 2012)

A total of three instruments: Demographic instrument; Interview guide; focus group guide will be used for data collection. The description descriptive phenomenological analysis approach will be used to analyze project data.

Findings will be submitted and presented at the department of sport science seminar and regional congress where stake holders such as Botswana National sport commission, Botswana National Olympic Committee are highly likely to be available. This data will also be presented in a national sport conference and regional or continental sport conference. Lastly, findings will be published in a journal of sport psychology.