An investigation of the career planning of ice hockey athletes fromthe eyes of senior managers of the Ice Hockey Federation in Türkiye

This research aims to comprehensively examine the career planning processes of ice hockey athletes in line with the opinions of senior managers affiliated with the Ice Hockey Federation in Turkey. The main objective of the study is to determine how athletes plan their careers, the obstacles they encounter in this process, and the role that the federation plays in overcoming these obstacles. The study was designed using qualitative research methods and a semi- structured interview technique was used in the data collection process, questions were sent in digital form and recorded online. In the study, in-depth interviews were conducted with 6 federation managers who are experts in the field of ice hockey, and the data obtained from these interviews were evaluated using the content analysis method. The findings reveal that athletes face many difficulties during their career planning. These include basic problems such as limited education and training opportunities, financial difficulties, lack of professional guidance, and inadequacy of career information systems. In addition, it was determined that the support of the federation in this process is of critical importance. It was observed that factors such as mentoring services, training programs, financial support provided to athletes and career counseling services provided by the federation make significant contributions in guiding the careers of athletes. However, it was concluded that the scope and sustainability of these supports were insufficient and more effective policies should be developed. The research shows that federations not only play a supporting role in the career planning of athletes, but also act as strategic actors that shape their long-term goals. In this context, federations need to create an innovative and sustainable structure that supports the individual and professional development of athletes. The research results provide guidance for a more comprehensive support system that the federation can offer and shed light on the career development processes of athletes. As a result, this study fills an important gap in the literature on the career planning processes of ice hockey athletes in Turkey. The study provides guiding suggestions for both athletes and sports managers, and contributes to the development of sports policies by federations. At the same time, this research makes a significant contribution to the sports management literature by revealing the effect of the federation on the professional satisfaction and career development of ice hockey athletes.