Why do competitors leave their sports? What are the reasons for the disappearance of people who love sport and have lived in sport for most of their lifetimes? There are a number of factors which lead to the end of one’s sporting career, many of them are listed and discussed below.
One’s eligibility expires – this happens mostly in collegiate sports in the USA. A player has four years of eligibility to compete in college sports across a span of five years. Occasionally an injury or some other issue may extend that to six years but it’s the rare exception. Most competitors can see this coming for at least a year, but some don’t really grasp it until they’re about to compete in the last game or meet of their careers. This factor ends the vast majority of collegiate sportspeople’s competitive sports careers.
Loss of opportunity – this happens in many sports, even to the most talented and host highly achieving, simply due to the lack of professional sports opportunities. There is no professional swimming tour, no pro Greco-Roman wrestling league, nothing beyond the amateur ranks for field hockey, cross country and most other sports. The loss of opportunity leads to the competitor’s withdrawal from daily training, from regular competition and leads many to transition their participation to recreation or to a complete cessation of everything sport related.
Other responsibilities – Family, career and other matters suddenly consume the competitor’s time and priorities. Competitors who had previously trained dozens of hours per week have their lives of practice, conditioning and competition in sport replaced by a similar number of hours devoted to study, preparation, meetings, travel and family time. Their lifestyle in sport is squeezed out by the limited number of hours in a day and a new devotion to other priorities and responsibilities.
One is expelled from sport – this happens more than we’d like to say and for a wide number of reasons. Drug use, violence, academic failure, theft, cheating, poor performance and other matters can lead to the competitor’s ejection from their place in sport. It usually takes a string of bad decisions, many instances of foolish behavior or consistently poor athletic performances for one to be kicked to the curb. Most coaches and most sports organizations seem to give the competitor every opportunity possible to recover and to stay with the team, but in many instances it’s just not enough.
One is injured – the sports landscape is littered with the torn cartilage and strained ligaments of sportspeople. I’ve occasionally been a part of conversations with competitors who have been confronted with the grim reality that their bodies will no longer support their love for the sport and the knowledge that continuing to train and to compete likely jeopardizes their long-term health and mobility. These are painful talks as their passion for the sport and their desire to compete is seldom worn out before their bodies are.
Conflicts with a Coach – sadly this happens all too often. Competitors and their coaches often disagree about playing time, training issues, team rules and even culture issues within a team, organization or club. Occasionally these matters can’t be resolved and a power struggle ensues. More often than not, the coach wins and the competitor finds himself with nowhere to compete. Suddenly, she’s on the outside of sport looking in.
Loss of interest – in eighteen years of working with collegiate athletes in various sports, this happens often among junior and senior sportspeople. After two or three years in the sport at this level, one can see if he or she is able to compete strongly. If so, he or she stays engaged, trains hard and remains committed to the sport, to goals and to the team. If not, it’s very common for the competitor to lose interest, to become more lax related to training, diet, sleep and other disciplines. In some cases the player feels trapped because his or her tuition is covered by a scholarship and to withdraw means the loss of financial aid. Their loss of interest comes at a high price, both emotionally and financially. The loss of interest leads to sport becoming very mundane, passionless and even painful.
Retirement - Whether at age fifteen or fifty, many sportspeople reach the end of their sports careers and finish with joy and satisfaction. This is the best case scenario. Any of the factors listed above can lead to one’s retirement from sport, but if one has the presence of mind and the freedom of heart, he or she can embrace the end of a sporting career with a smile. If one understands that he is not defined solely by his role on the team or his participation in the sport, he can release the sport and move into the next chapter of his life with a clear mind and a contented heart.
As we serve the men and women of sport, we must help them realize that their identity is not to be found solely in their sporting lives. Sport itself and society in general will drive them toward that, but we are responsible to remind them of their identity in Christ Jesus. Before the foundation of the world, He chose them to be His. From the day their birth He was seeking relationship with them. In every moment of their lives, on and off the field of competition, He has been speaking to their hearts. Upon their passing from this life, He will receive them into His presence. The sportsperson’s identity is in Christ, from their earliest experiences with the sport and certainly on the day of their exit from the sporting life. (Ephesians 2:10)
Let’s be faithful to walk beside those who leave sport, for whatever reason, to love extravagantly, to serve selflessly, to counsel and to remind them of their infinite value in the eyes of our Lord.
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