Have you ever considered where you see yourself in ten years?
Don’t worry. Most athletes do not have a vision for the future. However, just because they don’t have a long-term plan, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t.
Athletes struggle enough trying to meet the daily demands of an overbooked schedule. Practice, weight training, team meetings, video sessions, travel, competitions, media, endorsement commitments, club-organized events, media obligations, and family require time and attention.
But life success requires a long-term vision and preparation. Vision and preparation provide purpose, fulfillment, and lifelong productivity.
Preparation is the cornerstone of performance. Every athlete knows this. You wouldn’t step into the arena, field, or court without training, strategy, and a mindset conditioned for competition. The results would speak for themselves — poor performance, potential injury, and disappointment. Yet this same principle applies beyond sport. If you’re not preparing for life after your athletic career, you’re setting yourself up for the same outcome: struggle, confusion, and discontent.
Whether due to age, injury, or changes in life circumstances, every athlete eventually steps away from competition.
Take for instance, New York Jets quarterback Jordan Travis. The Jets selected Travis in the fifth round (No. 171) of the 2024 draft despite a gruesome leg injury that required surgery and lengthy rehab. However, on April 30, 2025, Travis’ injury forced him into an unexpected, early retirement.
TRAVIS: “On November 18th, 2023, my life and career took an unexpected turn. I gave everything I had to the rehab process, but despite my efforts, my leg never responded the way we hoped.
After much prayer and consultation with my doctors and medical team, I have been medically advised to retire from the game I love so deeply… It is crazy how fast life can change. This is not the ending I had ever imagined.”
Some athletes are ready for the moment their athletic career ends. They’ve pursued education, built networks, tended to their brand, set up foundations, created a business plan, or developed interests outside of sport. Others are caught off guard. The structure that once gave their life meaning disappears. The identity they built around performance and discipline feels lost. Without preparation, that transition can be jarring.
But it doesn’t have to be.
Taking time to envision your future is not about abandoning your present or de-emphasizing competing; it’s about expanding your sense of purpose. Maybe you see yourself coaching, mentoring young athletes, starting a business, or advocating for mental health in sports. Perhaps you’ll pursue a new degree, work in media, or form a foundation that gives back to your community. Whatever your dream, the path begins with asking: Who do I want to become when I move on from being an athlete?
Thinking ten years ahead brings clarity. It helps you recognize what skills you still need, what connections to build, and what interests to foster. Vision and planning prepare you for life after sport and bring stability and peace of mind to your family, helping them navigate the transition along with you. It allows you to shape your identity beyond the scoreboard and prepare for the next chapter with confidence, not fear.
So, where do you see yourself in ten years? Take time to reflect. Talk to other athletes who have experienced the same challenges. Explore your interests. Invest in the future. Elicit advice from career transition coaches. Just as your sport requires clear goals, intentional preparation, and purposeful action, so does your life after sports.
Your future is not just a matter of chance — it’s a matter of choice. And the earlier you start, the stronger you’ll finish.
Player Support Services helps athletes develop a personalized post-career plan by guiding them through a structured, supportive process. We work closely with each athlete to explore future opportunities, build essential life skills, and create a vision that goes beyond their playing days. Focusing on holistic well-being ensures that athletes transition confidently and thrive long after their sports careers end.
Our 6 Pillars of Athlete Well-Being: Performance, Physical, Mental/ Emotional, Financial, Family, and Post-Career offer additional support and resources to athletes, ensuring they thrive in every area of life. In other words, your concerns are our concerns. We are committed to helping athletes become the best versions of themselves. That is our goal. That is our promise!
JJ Weber, M.Ed., is a Co-Founder of Player Support Services and Director of Sports and Injury Psychology with over two decades of experience working with professional, Olympic, and elite athletes. If you have any questions about Player Support Services or how to become a member, email JJ Weber, M.Ed., at joe@player-support.com.
