I recently interviewed Katrina Monton, a Canadian water polo player, and asked her what it was like to try and craft her new identity after retiring from the sport.  She said she knew she was burnt out and ready to be done, but “when that day came, it was like one day you're in the training environment and the next you're not, and you're not really going back to that environment.”  She recounts struggling with what to prioritize around nutrition, sleep, education, and coping with an entirely different world outside of sports that came with new pressures and stressors.  Katrina said, “When you're in that level of sport, sport trumps everything else” and she wished she’d given herself more time to explore what might be next.  

Katrina’s story is all too common.  As athletes, we want our heads to stay in the game. Being distracted means not performing at our best, not making the roster, and possibly losing our spot on the team. That's one of the reasons some put off planning for life after the game.

There's also the more emotional reason. Not having a plan can be stressful and raise questions like, "What kind of job am I going to get?" or "What skills do I have? I haven't worked outside of sports in years!" And then there's the deeper question: "Who am I if I'm not an athlete?" Considering all that, it makes sense that the knee-jerk reaction would be to distance yourself from any traces of those thoughts.  Research shows that the antidote to all those concerns is, ironically enough, planning for retirement.

A recent study indicates that when athletes prepare while they're still playing, their performance improves, they stay with their teams longer, and they extend their careers. This benefits not only the players themselves but also the entire team and organization.  Tackling this kind of prep can be daunting, though.

What are some practical tips to help you get started? Here are three:

1. Start early: The earlier you start, the more stress can be alleviated now and in the future. And, as others have found, you'll play better and longer.
2. Balance your focus: Not being distracted from playing is a valid concern, but being focused on the game and planning for retirement can coexist. Yes, some preparation involves carving out concrete time (meeting with a financial advisor), but other aspects can be done passively (networking with the future in mind, reflecting on what you want to do, or allotting a certain amount of money to go into your savings account every paycheck).
3. Seek Support: Transition coaches are a great asset to help athletes plan in practical ways, but they can also empower you to work through mental stress and emotional struggles. A coach can help you answer those questions of “What job do I want and what am I qualified for?” or “Who am I apart from the game?”

Organizations can also assist their players in this area. Programs can be implemented to help team members get started on the journey, fostering a sense of community and support. This is a great opportunity to show that they are cared for apart from their physical abilities and that their well-being matters, too.

If you're interested in taking a closer look at the study's results, you can do so here.  And to learn more about how we help individuals navigate major transitions in life, drop us a line at The Next Playbook to chat about your goals.

-Derika

P.S. To hear the full conversation with Katrina, join us at The Next Playbook Podcast and sign up for our Newsletter to hear about new posts. You can also follow us on social media via Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.