Growing up, I played nearly every sport that was offered to me. I enjoyed running around during recess, as opposed to playing cards or coloring. I cannot remember a time in my life when I was not on some sort of team or in some league for any and every sport you could think of. While many kids spent their weekends camping or enjoying the newest Disney film in theaters, my weekends during the school year were filled with back-to-back tournaments and in the summer, loads of travel sports. At the time, running sprints until I wanted to toss my cookies was not exactly the most appealing task. However, now that I am a college student that decided to hang up my cleats, there are many hardships I face daily that I never considered when I gave up the games I loved.

1. You slowly but surely lose your once (what seemed to be effortless) athletic figure and abilities.

While moving on from playing organized sports did not come with a warning label about physical changes, the changes most definitely exist. Yes, I can still throw a softball and drain a three pointer now and again. However, I sometimes may find myself getting a tad winded when I have to carry my laundry up three flights of stairs. My body slowly became less and less muscular and my sharp athletic abilities became less than impressive. In order to have a smokin’ bod, I have to go to a gym full of everyday people and follow workout routines on machines. I miss the days when two practices a day with my favorite teammates was the exercise it took to stay in shape.

2. Watching other people play organized sports is difficult to do

I find myself often feeling very jealous of my younger friends that are still living up the high school athlete days, or my college friends that ended up playing at schools with programs they actually enjoyed. Going to tournaments to watch friends and family participate is less exciting than it once was because all I want to do is run out onto the field and show them how it is done! I struggle to accept the fact that the days of structured play are over. I cannot imagine myself as a parent watching my five-year-old play recreational soccer. Here is my official apology for if you see me running out onto the field to show them my moves.

3. Losing your relationship with your sport is like going through a break up

At first, you know the decision is what is right for you. You weigh all of your options and eventually, you just rip off the Band-Aid and go your separate ways. However, after awhile, you begin to second-guess your choice. You reminisce about the good ol’ days, and you begin to doubt if you made the correct decision or not. You may even go as far as backsliding into your sport even though you tried to make the commitment to never go back again! You may try on your old uniforms jus to see if it smells like it used to. There may be many days where you try to fill the holes in your heart that your sport left with new hobbies or pastimes, hoping to keep your mind off of the dear relationship with the sport you once had. You may also find yourself going through great feelings of sadness, anger, frustration, relief, and eventually, peace.

Being an athlete growing up is something I will forever be thankful for. I learned some of my most valuable life lessons from the many obstacles of being an athlete. I learned how to manage my time, I learned how to push myself to my limits, I learned how to set goals and achieve them, and I learned how to love something unconditionally. I will always be thankful for every teammate, coach, and opponent I ever came in contact with. And for all of you current athletes, appreciate every moment you get on that court, field, or rink, because you never know when it’ll be your last.