Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

cortez1O t1_ja3yoor wrote

Be competitive in something else. Marathons, tough mudders, crossfit, triathlons, etc. Plenty of things to channel that competitive fire into.

354

_Forgotten t1_ja4hb1o wrote

You missed League of Legends sir.

167

Acualux t1_ja5ixjs wrote

Stop there Satan, he said be competitive in something else, not be a slave or throw away your life for something else.

57

Pokesers t1_ja6sjrf wrote

You dont want to be converted into a toxic basement gremlin who speaks only in insults?

6

Oudeis16 t1_ja7ei44 wrote

...I mean OP said he wanted to be in sports so kinda the same thing, unless you're one of the top like six guys in any given sport. And yes I am deliberately gendering that.

0

arons20 t1_ja68kby wrote

Softball or golf also help. I made fun of golf my entire life, and now I absolutely love it. Great competition with a few of my lax buddies for the last 15+ years

6

Cryptbarron t1_ja6g3rp wrote

On top of that almost every city has a rugby team. No experience required and you get to run the ball and tackle people if you’re into that type of sport!

5

kelownew t1_ja56wa5 wrote

> tough mudders

I read that as "murders". Oops?

3

jmwheel t1_ja4a9xw wrote

Not sure what your sport is but keep doing it if you can! It doesn’t have to be competitively to enjoy it. I played baseball for 12 years then went to a D1 school which was beyond my level so I never played it again. But I stayed active playing other sports recreationally, and now I do Spartan races to keep that fire going, and I also do online sim racing to give myself something to work at and improve on and compete against other people. There are SO many ways to stay competitive well beyond the years that you’re actually participating in the sport.

75

matt2085 OP t1_ja4hiz9 wrote

I was a swimmer which can be done solo but is very boring. I think I’m gonna join back with my club team this summer. I’ve been lifting so maybe I’ll be able to come back better than I was once my cardio gets back up. Strength was that was holding me back when I was in competition

42

foundmyselfheregr8 t1_ja4lvz2 wrote

Swim teams called master swim. National and local competitions are out there. Try to think beyond your geographic area. Triathlon is a great competition

26

matt2085 OP t1_ja4m3ob wrote

I tried looking at masters but they seem to all have practice during my work hours. My club team that I did in middle school and through college has practice in the evening so that looks like a good option for mow

16

pearstring t1_ja80mcp wrote

You don’t necessarily need to practice with a team to compete in masters; you can join masters and practice by yourself and still go to all of the meets

3

phantasmagorically t1_ja4oen7 wrote

As a former swimmer, find a new sport. That’s most of what me and my former teammates did. I tried swimming masters for a while before a coworker introduced me to the climbing gym. These days I’m mostly an outdoor climber, another friend got into CrossFit, I know someone else who does triathlons, etc.

With a sport like swimming that’s basically your whole life from grade school to college, it’s a tough transition for sure, but there’s loads of other stuff to discover that you probably never had time for before!

14

myslowtv t1_ja6iphh wrote

I switched to triathlons. We don't need to swim and bike rides can be way more social than you're used to in the pool. It's been good for me (except the COVID break...)

2

HoosierDev t1_ja3ynka wrote

Being physically unable to play a sport is very different than being able to be involved. Give back to the sport and become a coach. Whether it’s little kids or big kids, they need good adults with your skill.

51

Bmoelicious t1_ja5o2wz wrote

This. Played baseball, then competitive softball, then coached baseball/softball for the park district grades 1-8. Retired after 33 years of playing and 10 years of coaching.

7

M3kkoman t1_ja5v4ow wrote

THIS!!! You don’t have to be a full time coach! in fact tons of coaches are part time, and are extremely active in their sport to be able to demonstrate and do it with the kids. Bonus: you set your own coaching hours and make side money!

6

TheElusiveHolograph t1_ja43a0d wrote

Running! You can run competitively no matter your skill level.

31

matt2085 OP t1_ja43hfi wrote

Haha I have short legs but I should probably try to get halfway decent at running so that’s a good idea! I do enjoy biking so maybe I can add running too

14

willy_billy t1_ja4nj4m wrote

Iron man triathlon. That should keep you busy for a while.

12

Consistent_Midnight2 t1_ja651l7 wrote

Lol a swimmer who hates running!? Never heard of such a thing!! /s

10

BananaAppleSimp t1_ja85zk5 wrote

As a swimmer, I remember last year being so frustrated when I could barely run half a mile without being winded, which was illogical given I could swim a mile without the same problem. Then I realized I was basically taking in too much oxygen and not expelling enough, cuz swimmers and runners breath differently. Who knew 😅

4

we-tu-lo t1_ja8gm3m wrote

Sounds like you should do a triathalon

0

skibumsmith t1_ja45ljb wrote

You dont have to stop being an athlete. Do recreational sports: skiing, biking, climbing etc.

23

jotsea2 t1_ja477d6 wrote

Being an athlete is a state of mind

9

Gofastrun t1_ja4aoz3 wrote

Join a masters team. Pick up solo athletic pursuits like weightlifting, skiing, running.

And for your own sake, adjust your caloric intake to the fact that you’re not training 6 hours/day anymore

16

Basic_Ent t1_ja412oe wrote

You get to be anonymous in public. If you go pro in a popular sport and do well, people will recognize you everywhere you go. A lot of pro athletes grow bitter from having to wall themselves off. Bitter or angry, or prideful. We're just not built to be famous, it breaks us.

Peace at the end of your career without the general public being in your business will matter a lot to you later in life.

7

matt2085 OP t1_ja41dxt wrote

There is next to zero chance to go pro in my sport. People only watch it in the Olympics

9

hopophmi t1_ja3y1jc wrote

Leave your pride on the field and don’t let it define you it was only a chapter of your life

6

badstrad t1_ja4nnlx wrote

Swimmers can find success in cycling

6

blondechinesehair t1_ja5ew54 wrote

Honestly it’s an adjustment. I felt like I was losing my identity.

I took some time to be a little out of shape for the first time in my life (not sure I’d recommend). Partied too much for a bit. But then slowly just figured out who I was again.

5

matt2085 OP t1_ja5fd39 wrote

Yeah I graduated 2 years ago and just kinda fell out with swimming but I just went to my schools champs and they all did amazing especially my roommate who was at a very similar skill level. He made a nationals cut and was less than half a second off 2 other cuts. It was sad thinking that I should’ve been a part of the team this year but I graduated early… I told myself my only goal was to never say “what if…?” But now I’ve been thinking what if I had 3 more years of it? Covid fucked it up so I only had 1 year of collegiate swimming.

4

blondechinesehair t1_ja5ftju wrote

Personally I would be sure to keep swimming. I played basketball and I finally figured out that what I missed was the social side, the camaraderie, the high fives and shit talk. I started playing in high end men’s leagues and I was surprised to find that I was a way better player at 30 than I was in college, and I enjoyed it more.

1

Original-Ad-4642 t1_ja3zf6b wrote

I got into biking, powerlifting, yoga, running, and strongman after college. There’s lots of opportunities to participate in athletics outside of school.

3

matt2085 OP t1_ja42t2o wrote

I’ve been lifting but I think I’m gonna join my club team again at least for the summer. Just prolonging the inevitable but it’ll give me time

2

craigmorris78 t1_ja4xjsn wrote

If you were a swimmer, how about water polo?

3

matt2085 OP t1_ja569ig wrote

Can’t throw or catch lol

1

craigmorris78 t1_ja6xc7q wrote

But you’d have such an advantage with the swimming you could learn pretty quickly. That said, there must be loads of options. Triathlon?

1

30kplus t1_ja5d0gn wrote

it’s hard to know what to do when you can no longer do the only thing you have ever wanted to do. but it really bouls down to picking another activity to replace it.

3

Zegerman t1_ja4rmuv wrote

Find a club team and enjoy not having to go to practice 12 times a week anymore.

Source: Former national team rower here.

2

Smooth_Peace_6272 t1_ja56w3h wrote

It can be difficult to accept the end of an athletic career after college, but it is important to remember that there are still many opportunities to stay involved in sports. Taking on a coaching role can be a great way to keep your passion alive while also helping others to gain the same joys and experiences you had. Additionally, you can explore other ways to stay connected to your sport such as networking with former teammates or attending sporting events. Lastly, finding a way to stay physically active can help you to maintain the physical and mental benefits associated with sports.

2

keepthetips t1_ja3xmzf wrote

Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips!

Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment.

If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.

1

Valuable-Math9969 t1_ja4srzt wrote

You are primed to start your career as a triathlete. Start learning to run and bike now and keep your swim skills at a decent level.

1

Worth_A_Go t1_ja5i84w wrote

Senior year after my last competition I went to the wait room out of habit. I was lackadaisically going through some sets and then asked myself what I was doing in there. I didn’t have a goal so I walked out. But with the extra free time there was plenty of opportunity to get into physically recreational activities around campus. I enjoyed the fun in the sun and low pressure competition. In about a years time other challenges came across my plate that gave me goals to shoot for. Sometimes it’s someone at work being a crossfitter and inviting you or someone at work doing iron man. Or another coworker doing Jujitzu. All these things easily spark the competitive nature and give goals to train for. At this point focus on getting a career because they don’t hand those out like candy.

1

hypnos_surf t1_ja5s9kh wrote

I’m not exactly sure about your situation, but you don’t have to completely end your career in professional sports. Find positions with your local professional teams. Maybe work with agents coaches or other people at a pro level.

It will allow you to live and breathe sports while still being relevant in the field if actually playing isn’t an option right now.

1

Mystavis t1_ja5u800 wrote

If you want to go pro start taking steroids like the rest of them. If you don't want to fuck up your body for life then find something else for your competitive spirit

1

-Goat--- t1_ja5v6fk wrote

Raquetball is tons of fun. Go to a gym with courts and just learn it, then join in with regular goers and have a blast.

1

Sad_Philly_Fan t1_ja5wbb0 wrote

A good acceptance is just being happy and remembering the memories you’ve made. Like, being happy you got to play an extra 2-4 years while some people’s careers end at High School. Or, perhaps join small leagues in your free time so your career doesn’t have to end

1

boy4518 t1_ja5ymed wrote

you could dominate adult leagues

1

ValenTom t1_ja60csy wrote

A lot of people are suggesting picking up other sports or competitive outlets that are unrelated. But you can still stay involved in your specific sport by being a coach and imparting your knowledge and experience on the next generation of athletes.

It will provide you with a sense of pride and accomplishment to see those that you mentor succeed in the sport that you once succeeded in.

1

FabianVG t1_ja62pbs wrote

This is most people in athletics.

1

Puzzleheaded-Show691 t1_ja63xge wrote

Be proud that you gave your best effort and had probably the time of your life and made memories that will last your entire life. Life is full of chapters and do your best to accept one has ended but be excited because another is about to begin. You will find your next challenge, if it’s in the same field or even if it’s not a sport at all. You got this.

1

Frozen-Rain t1_ja66143 wrote

I got more into lifting and back into soccer after doing track/cross country in uni. Then this fall me and some friends got into climbing. I’d say try to find some activities you think you’d enjoy doing and join a recreational league. Can also get into coaching if you really love swimming. As others have mentioned triathlons could also be something competitive to get into

1

Captain_Comic t1_ja66u38 wrote

Coach, it can be just as, if not more rewarding than competing

1

butterscotches t1_ja698qx wrote

I’m 50s now but tore my ankle ligaments during practice after my best season ever and never went back. Running, drumming, bass playing kept me hyper competitive with myself (running competitive with others). Look outside of sports. Anecdotal, sure, but it worked for me.

1

hareemKunt t1_ja6d0vk wrote

When my playing career ended I knew I wanted to coach . Thankfully for me, it instantly filled the void and I enjoy coaching more then I did playing . Find something ro fill your competitive void while also trying new things you couldn’t do while you played, for me that was skiing, and travelling . Wish you all the best

1

varekai18 t1_ja6giud wrote

Try open water swimming if it’s available near you!

1

Trvlng_Drew t1_ja6syus wrote

You and Tom Brady eh? Well maybe channel into another area of your sport like coaching and find another competition for yourself I ran till I was 55 now I walk it works

1

hawgietonight t1_ja6to95 wrote

Just be thankful that you found out earlier than later that it was a dead end road.

Now, you can stay into sports as a hobby or keep it as a career by not being the main actor, as coach for example.

Many say to change sports. If you found swimming boring, try more technical and social sports like inline skating or mountain biking. If you have the coordination, these types of sports are kind on the body and very rewarding.

1

swolfdab t1_ja6ulfg wrote

Drain your ego and start giving back to the sport... Coach/teach it to the next generation.

1

schjweert t1_ja6zr7x wrote

The main thing i would advise is: go do the things you couldn't because of your sport. I had to drop out if high performance track because of an injury. It took me a while to get over it. But in the end i found joy in meeting with people more often, having game nights and things like that. But also having the time to work on myself as a person. You can develop and use the skills you learned from sports and use them in your working career. I did stay a bit active though, training twice a week and coaching kids at the local track, but that has to be something you like to do.

1

DiamondBarbie007 t1_ja77yfp wrote

Al Bundy scored four touchdowns in one game, this was the first thing that came to mind.

1

Studentmindset t1_ja7a9fl wrote

Ending an athletic career after college can be a challenging transition, and it's completely normal to feel a mix of emotions about it. As someone who has gone through this experience myself, I understand how difficult it can be to let go of something that has been such a big part of your life for so long.

One thing that helped me was to take the time to reflect on my accomplishments and the experiences I had as an athlete. I found it helpful to look back on all the hard work, dedication, and perseverance that went into my sport, and to celebrate the successes that I achieved along the way.

Another thing that helped me was to find new interests or hobbies that could fill the void left by my athletic career. For me, that meant exploring new activities like hiking, yoga, and painting. It was a great way to find new passions and to channel my energy into something positive.

Staying connected with my teammates and coaches was also really important for me. Even though we weren't competing together anymore, we still shared a strong bond and could offer each other support and encouragement. It helped me feel like I wasn't completely leaving the sport behind.

Finally, I would encourage you to set new goals for yourself. Think about what you want to achieve in your personal or professional life, and set your sights on those goals. Having something to work towards can help you feel motivated and give you a sense of purpose and direction.

Remember, the end of your athletic career doesn't mean the end of your identity as an athlete. You can still carry the lessons and values you learned through sports with you in all aspects of your life. It may take time to adjust to this new phase of your life, but with time and effort, you will find new ways to thrive and succeed.

1

jrhawk42 t1_ja7ceqa wrote

I actually did this in college so it's a little different but things weren't going my way and I decided to take a season off. No training, no lifting, no coaches, no rec leagues, nothing. For the first time since I was 6 years old I wasn't playing a competitive sport, and it was like a switch was hit. At first it was just going to be a season so I could figure things out, but after a few weeks I just decided I was ending my career.

So that's my advice don't think of it as ending a career. Take a season off enjoy life, and see how that fits.

1

jtmarlinintern t1_ja7craj wrote

try doing something else, but find a team sport after, is harder, but you can get into other things, like endurance sports, or try something like rock climbing , surf, tri athalon etc

1

Oudeis16 t1_ja7fg3e wrote

I feel like the fix has to come well before you start to think of yourself as a teenager as having an "athletic career". The fraction of 'college athletes' who continue in the sport is miniscule, and the ones who do spend their lives in minor teams, get a sudden career-ending injury, or simply never make anything of themselves. If you start in high school actually convincing yourself that you're gonna be one of the maybe three or four boys your age to actually end up making something of themselves, enough to make it the focus of your life, you've already made a massive mistake.

Long before the end of college, any athlete should understand, this is not my career path, this is not going to be helpful or good for me, this has a soon and immediate expiration date. I should treat this as a hobby and build skills and friends and a network and a plan assuming that it will soon be gone and I'll be doing nothing but playing pick-up games on Fridays.

Anyone who gets to the end of college believing this was going to be their career who now suddenly has to backtrack... gosh I don't even know how to deal with the problem once it gets that big. It has to involve recognizing that something you just devoted some of the most formative years of your life to was a waste of time. I don't know how you'd begin to do that. Therapy, I should think.

1

matt2085 OP t1_ja7wmsz wrote

I didn’t mean athletic professional career just being an athlete

−1

Oudeis16 t1_ja9wl52 wrote

...well you said "athletic career" so I think you did and now you're just lying and trying to cover.

And why would you need to get used to it? There's a club for any sport you'd care to name pretty much anywhere you go. If all you want is "play a game once a week during a season" there's no reason not to do that.

1

matt2085 OP t1_jaatksh wrote

Nah I just genuinely thought athletic career meant your success in a sport. I consider my job my professional career.

0

JonnyB2_YouAre1 t1_ja7g0l6 wrote

I think you should go talk to a therapist. There's nothing wrong with you but you may find that going to talk to a professional for a few sessions will help put things into perspective for you.

Also, don't trust randoms on the Internet but I will say from personal experience that the older you get, the less your body can withstand and also, some injuries you never fully recover from. You should consider what might be important to you when you are 40 or 50 or 60. What do you need to do now to make sure you're able to live like that then? It probably doesn't include some of the suggestions people are making in here.

1

huh_phd t1_ja7uwig wrote

Gotta accept that your body isn't capable of doing sports ball your entire life.

1

ProfessionalPiece25 t1_ja80lxl wrote

This could be tough, but certainly you can do it. Everyone who has advised you to find another competitive activity is correct. But you are also dealing with a significant change in self-identity. You also need to answer the question, “Who shall I be now?” First, you are an adult; you are, presumably, no longer a student in limbo between adolescence and adulthood. Career comes to the forefront. What are you going to be professionally? Perhaps becoming a spouse and parent will be part of your new identity. The beauty of the situation is that YOU get to choose. And get used to a shift in identity. It will happen several times over what hopefully will be a long and happy life. Good luck!

1

goldwind7 t1_ja859jy wrote

Leaving a sport after training for so long is hard no matter what. I will say that the biggest challenge that surprised me was getting used to is not being on a team -- I played an individual sport all my life and yet this was still the most difficult (emotionally, mentally) as you lose that bond and support system that only sports/teammates/coaches can give you.

Stay active on your own terms (which is a positive, but watch out for body dysmorphia), explore new hobbies because you're going to have so much more free time, and look for a community that supports and pushes you! Whether it's friends or a group for a hobby/activity. Ex-college athletes often love beer leagues for kickball or softball, or pick up something radically different. I run and lift ~5x/week, I have friends who coach kids in their sports as a side hustle, we've done fun things we've always wanted to try but never had time to, etc.

One thing I will emphasize though is that there is definitely a period of identity crisis and changes in body/self image. Don't get too down and remind yourself that you are entering a new, different chapter! Your body is still strong and capable! Enjoy and congratulations.

1

SvenAERTS t1_ja86cs6 wrote

EU policy Dual Career mgt athletes and Transition mgt of athletes...

1

tseibert74 t1_ja8ge7s wrote

Get into coaching! Once football ended for me I dove into coaching. Started off volunteering to coach youth football, gained some experience and met some contacts that helped me move up to the high school level. I did that for a few years until work became too busy for me. I miss it all the time. Coaching is a great way to fuel the competitive drive and help give back. Everyone always remembers a great coach they had along the way. I tried to be that for my players. I learned so much and made many great relationships along the way.

1

No_Economist77 t1_ja9syjm wrote

By recognizing that the end of your sports career is the natural evolution of any and all sports careers. You are lucky to have an end that is predictable and known to you.

Many athletes step of the field, track, court, and mat for the last time without even knowing that they would never play or compete again.

You are focusing on what you are losing and not what you are gaining. At a minimum, a bunch of time to do things that you didn't have time for before.

The end of sports creates space in your life for you to fill it with new things that you love and bring joy to your life.

1

elemant48 t1_ja5gsf4 wrote

It wasn’t a career if you didn’t support yourself with it and couldn’t make it past college. It was a competitive hobby. Continue doing it if you like it

0