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Community Corner

If I'm Not an Athlete Now, Who am I?

Learn how to transition from being an athlete to finding joy and satisfaction in other activities off the court.

Many high school athletes dream of playing their sport in college. Unfortunately, that dream does not always match up with their future plans. These athletes are then faced with the reality of turning in their uniform and moving on from playing their sport. This can lead the athlete to question their identity and where they fit in.

The first question I have for athletes who are facing the possibility of being done with their sport is, “Are you really ready to be done?”

I truly believe that if an athlete wants to play their sport in college, then there is a school who wants them. However, that school may be smaller than what the athlete is looking for, it may be a lower division, in an undesirable location for the athlete, or the college may not have the major the athlete is looking for. Finding the right fit academically and athletically can be much tougher than one might think. Nevertheless, I encourage all of my athletes to play in college if they have the desire to because you can always stop or transfer, but once you stop playing it’s almost impossible to start again at the college level.

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If you are ready or circumstances require you to be done, the key to a successful transition from your sport is to have a plan. For coaches and parents, your role in helping your athletes’ transition can be the difference in them developing the coping skills necessary to leave their sport behind.

Talk with the athlete about what other activities, projects or programs they would like to be involved with. For many athletes this is simply getting involved in their college or career path. It’s good to establish specific transition activities so you and the athlete know what the next step is. Most colleges offer some type of intramural sports and leagues. This is a great way to stay connected with sports and provides fun all at the same time. Intramural sports also provide the social networking that athletes are familiar with.

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When athletes leave their sport it’s a great time to take the gifts and talents they have learned and apply them in other areas. For example, many former athletes get involved with coaching or personal training. This is a way for them to share their years of experience with others. I can personally relate to this because after I graduated from college and my career ended, I took up coaching. This helped me tremendously with my transition away from being a college volleyball player.

Another idea that helps athletes transition is to find a new sport to play recreationally. Many people take up golf, tennis, swimming, soccer, softball, or perhaps a sport sponsored by their company. Learning a new sport can be fun and challenging.

The final whistle is going to blow for everyone, no matter who you are. Regardless of the reason athletes leave their sport, it’s important for them to have a clear plan that provides direction and structure. There is life after sports and it’s up to the athlete to determine what that is.

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