ABSTRACT
In recent times, most of the world’s major sports have undergone a shift toward professionalization. This has resulted in the creation of professional leagues, the initiation of formal development pathways to support them, and the recruitment of children onto these pathways through talent identification schemes. This has created what is essentially an athlete conveyor belt, where individuals are increasingly disposable because there is always a younger, healthier body to take their place. Imagine being an athlete somewhere along this path and sustaining a serious injury. Your access to medical care, not to mention the likelihood of retaining your position with the team, may depend on how quickly you can recover. This chapter delves into the psychological impact of professionalized systems, including effects on athlete identity, stress responses, and risky behaviors that emerge in terms of injury (non)reporting and premature return to play. Differences between sports are explored to showcase the significant contributions of sport culture to the experiences of injured athletes and their likelihood of successful recovery.
