Being a former college athlete is a wonderful thing. In the years immediately following being a college athlete it is a wonderful thing to be able to put on job resumes and the life lessons we learn are invaluable. When we finally decide to "hang them up" we learn some important lessons. We quickly realize that those years spent playing our sport were times that we will cherish forever and always wish that could revisit. The relationships that we built with our teammates and coaches are ones that we will appreciate for the rest of our lives. Furthermore, there are a few specific things that most athletes can agree on that we all learn after hanging them up.
1. It now takes way too much Advil to touch anything that ails us.
2. Knowing "we still got it" enough to play in any co-ed or rec league.
4. Being way too competitive in said co-ed/rec league.
5. Being terribly sore the day after co-ed/rec game.
6. "Yeah, I played ______ in college...."
7. Rainy days are painful days.
8. Having an athletic shoe addiction and nowhere to wear them now.
9. Having any athletic gear addiction still.
10. Finding it much harder to go for an enjoyable run/workout.
11. Thinking you can still lift like you used to when you actually do workout.
12. We relive our glory days probably way too much.
13. We can retell with incredible detail our best and worst games.
14. Your coaches are now your best job references.
15. Going back for Alumni Day is the best reunion.
16. Talking about what sports our future kids will definitely play.
17. The lessons we learned will stick with us much longer than any games won and lost.
18. Roadtrips and getting to miss class were the best.
19. Our teammates became our family, and still are.
20. We wouldn't trade our many years in the game for anything; not even good knees, hips, shoulders, or elbows.
My time playing were some of the best years of my life and have provided some of the greatest memories that I will forever cherish. If you're a "retired college athlete" what else have you learned?
