Finding Your Stride After College Sports

Do you remember the first time you picked up a soccer ball or did your first cartwheel? Or when you truly fell in love with your sport? This passion has likely been a part of your life since elementary or middle school, and now it’s time for a major transition from college sports to life in the workforce. 

Graduation season is quickly approaching, and college athletes everywhere are feeling uncertain or uneasy about what lies ahead. You’re not alone—these feelings are valid and normal. While it may feel like you’re leaving everything you’ve known behind or that you’re losing a key part of your identity, there are plenty of ways to incorporate everything you love about your sport into your post-grad life. With the right mindset, support and preparation, you can navigate this transition with resilience and thrive. 

The life of a college athlete is centered around their sport, with a lot of time dedicated to workouts, recovery, team bonding, practices and game days. Beyond mandatory events, you spend most of your day with your teammates, whom you may also consider your best friends. College sports teams provide built-in routines, community, and external validation. Transitioning from this lifestyle can be difficult and disorienting mentally, physically, and socially. 

It’s important to remember there are steps you can take to set yourself up for success in your upcoming transition to life after college sports. Keep the following five tips in mind as you approach graduation season: 

1. Shift your purpose 

For four years, your sport has defined major parts of your life, like your friendships, schedule, and self-worth.  You may even feel like you haven’t had time to find yourself or your true identity. At a time like this, it’s important to remember that your sport is part of you, but not all of you. Take some time to explore your other interests, friendships, passions, and aspirations.

2. Build a new routine 

Sports have demanded a good chunk of your time for the last four years. Soon, you’re going to have a lot more time on your hands, and you’ll need to figure out how to fill it. Now is the perfect time to start testing out new routines and see what sticks for post-grad. Maybe you’ve been subjected to mandatory 6 a.m. lifts, but now, you can go to the gym at 6 p.m.! 

3. Find a support system 

When you play a team sport, that’s often where your support system lies. From coaches to teammates, you are surrounded by people who share your experience and care about you. The friendships built through sports last a lifetime, but you will have to make a conscious effort to build a new support network after graduation. This can mean finding new friends or strengthening existing relationships with friends and family. 

4. Leverage your soft skills 

Being an athlete teaches you endless “soft skills” that are valuable in any real-world job. Teamwork, perseverance, commitment, time management—you name it, and I guarantee it’s something that employers are searching for. Highlight them in interviews or your resume, and you’re sure to stand out. 

5. Seek mental health support 

Even with preparation, this transition can still be really difficult. Mental health professionals specialize in life changes like this one, and they’re ready to meet you and help you get through this transition. Playing a college sport is a truly unique experience, and so is moving on. Help is available to help you navigate it.

Above all, remember that you can do this. This change can be tough, but you’re tougher, and you will find your stride after you graduate this spring. Lean into the uncertainty and rediscover things about yourself that might have slipped through the cracks over the years. You've got this! 

If you’re looking for support for this transition, you can schedule a consultation with Papakyrikos Therapy & Performance here.