본 논문은 질적 연구방법을 적용하여 국가대표 출신 아이스하키 은퇴선수들의 은퇴와 종목과 무관한 직업으로의 전환, 그리고 지도자로 회귀하는 과정을 탐색하고자 하였다. 연구 목적을 달성하기 위해 아이스하키 선수 경험을 가진 연구자는 문화기술지와 내러티브 연구 방법을 혼용하였다. 참여관찰, 심층면담, 연구자의 연구노트는 본 연구의 주요 연구 자료로 사용되었다. 수집된 자료는 Spradley(1979; 1980)의 문화기술적 자료 분석방법을 참조하여 분석되었으며, 연구 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫 째, 아이스하키 선수들은 혹독한 훈련을 경험하면서 엘리트 스포츠 문화를 습득하였다. 운동에만 전념하기를 요구하는 한국 엘리트 스포츠 문화를 수용하고 아이스하키 선수로서 자신의 정체성을 확립함으로써 스포츠로의 사회화가 이루어졌다. 둘 째, 국가대표 출신 아이스하키 선수들은 군대, 자유의지, 그리고 선발제외 요인에 기인한 은퇴를 경험하였다. 셋 째, 연구 참여자들은 은퇴 이후 종목과 무관한 직종으로 직업을 전환하였다. 아이스하키라는 작은 사회와 현실을 동일시하면서 개인의 가치관과 현실 사이에서 마찰을 경험하였으며, 그 과정에서 정체성 혼란을 경험하였다. 넷 째, 신분이 변했지만 정체성은 변하지 못하고 직장인과 지도자라는 서로 다른 정체성이 공존하였다. 국가대표라는 정체성은 직업전환을 하는 과정에서 일종의 장애물이었지만, 지도자로 회귀할 때는 그 반대였다. 국가대표가 가진 높은 인지도와 개인 레슨을 하면서 형성된 사회적 지지 기반은 그들이 되돌아오는데 중요한 역할을 하였다.
This qualitative research was to examine retirement and resocialization process of former Korean national ice hockey players. To achieve the purpose of this study, the researcher, former ice hockey player, applied ethnography mixed with narrative. Ethnographic observation, in-depth interviews, and a research diary were employed as main data. The data was analyzed with ethnographic data analysis suggested by Spradley(1979; 1980). Findings from this study were as follows. First, Korean ice hockey players had acquired the culture of Korean elite sports while they had been participating intense training. All participants were socialized in sports by establishing their identity as an athlete. In this process, right for learning was deprived; as a result, ice hockey players were isolated in a small ice hockey community. Second, the main reason of retirement of participants was military service, free choice, and deselection. These reasons of retirement were combined of reason for athletic retirement. Duty of military service and demand and supply of only two semi-professional ice hockey clubs in Korea gave rise to structural problem of Korean ice hockey. Third, all participants changed their occupation, which was irrelevant to ice hockey. While living in a small isolated ice hockey community, participants had been building up their athletic identity and sense of accomplishment. Since former hockey players equated the small hockey community with reality, they had crashed between value of life and actualities, and also had identity confusion. Forth, in career transition, although participants` status was changed, identity was not; as a result, the identity of employee coexisted with athletic identity as a coach. The identity of the members of Korean national team was definitely obstacle to completely adapt to new life style. On the other hand, the identity was merit to return to the ice as a hockey coach. When it came to return to the ice as a coach, high reputation of the members of Korean national team and social support in field of hockey played an important role in career transition. To resolve fundamental problem of retirement of athlete and adaptation, first the student-athlete issue should be discussed and resolved. In addition, they should take back their right for learning to keep themselves from losing social stability.