Stage 1: Wellness and Support
OBJECTIVE OF STAGE 1
Athletes are focused on achieving their best performance and working towards a goal of winning. However, having conversations and doing research about your future after sport is important. Athletes can leverage their network and resources to prepare for their second career after sports.
After identifying as an athlete for so long, it is understandably difficult to discover your new self after sports. Stage 1 serves to provide resources on transitioning from sport, shifting identities, tools for coping, adjusting your nutrition, and helping athletes leverage their sport experience to be successful and make a healthy transition.
Athletes are focused on achieving their best performance and working towards a goal of winning. However, having conversations and doing research about your future after sport is important. Athletes can leverage their network and resources to prepare for their second career after sports.
After identifying as an athlete for so long, it is understandably difficult to discover your new self after sports. Stage 1 serves to provide resources on transitioning from sport, shifting identities, tools for coping, adjusting your nutrition, and helping athletes leverage their sport experience to be successful and make a healthy transition.
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"Retirement should come from a place of knowing that the time has come to pursue different, meaningful dreams, and whatever goals are left on the playing field, are there for others to take on and chase as you cheer them on." (Read More) |
talk about it!
Conversations about leaving sport is considered taboo for many athletes. But the reality is that every athlete's sport career ends with a transition to a new chapter.
Every athlete struggles to find their identity after sport. There are a lot of simple strategies athletes can use to make their transition easier. Having conversations about what's next and even simply creating an awareness of the reality that sport isn't forever is a great first step to improving your eventual transition.
Every athlete struggles to find their identity after sport. There are a lot of simple strategies athletes can use to make their transition easier. Having conversations about what's next and even simply creating an awareness of the reality that sport isn't forever is a great first step to improving your eventual transition.
Retirement is not giving up
It is hard leaving something you have devoted so much time and effort to. Part of your transition plan should include appreciation and acceptance of completing sport.
"There are endless quotes and sayings urging athletes to keep going, not to quit, to never give up. Quitting is seen as the greatest failure.
But what happens when quitting is the best option? And what if quitting is not actually quitting at all, but rather a smart choice? ..."
"There are endless quotes and sayings urging athletes to keep going, not to quit, to never give up. Quitting is seen as the greatest failure.
But what happens when quitting is the best option? And what if quitting is not actually quitting at all, but rather a smart choice? ..."
goal setting
Just like in sport, it is important to set goals to help plan your transition. Start thinking ahead about what comes after sport and how you can work towards that now.
Ways you can start working towards your transition plan now:
Ways you can start working towards your transition plan now:
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Sport Related
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Career Related
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Mental Health: Identity
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Athletic identity can be defined as the degree to which you identify with your sport.
There are two extremes when it comes to Athletic Identity:
Both scenarios are not healthy. There must be a balance. Source: John Haime |
5 Steps towards balance
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"It is important to take some time and allow yourself to grieve the loss of your sport and all the benefits that have gone with it (teammates, purpose, love & praise from fans, enjoyment and other feelings). This period will help you come to terms with the loss – allow you to let go and prevent long-term negative feelings like resentment from emerging later. Leaving your sport and putting your athletic identity aside is a major loss, so allow yourself some time to address the loss. And then move on." (Read more )
NxStage Mentoring Program
CKO Sprint is expanding our Mentor Program to include a mentorship opportunity for transitioning athletes. Our goal is to connect CKO Sprint alumni with transitioning athletes to provide a source of guidance and support. It is up to the mentor and mentee to coordinate communicate and conversation topics.
Physical Transition
coming soon