One of the distinctions we draw in this community is that between an athlete and a competitor. We are athletes because of our skill sets and our interest in a given sport (or sports). We become competitors when the opportunity arises for us to actually go out and compete in those sports in an active and organized way. We can be an athlete who is not competing, and we can compete in things that are not athletic in nature. The whole reason behind this community is to provide resources to athletes after they are done competing. 

Our competitive years may be over, but what if we aren’t done playing yet? Can a continued participation in our sport, though in a less (or non) competitive way be a part of the picture? As always, the right answer is an individual one. Let’s dive in. 

Some sports lend themselves to continued play even outside of competition. Running, golf, swimming, or skiing are all sports that immediately come to mind. It’s not at all unthinkable that these activities would continue to be a source of entertainment and recreation after competition. It’s also understandable that competitors who immerse themselves in these sports might need to step away from them, either because of their level of training, their association with higher levels of competition, or even an injury. More on that in today’s survey. 

They are also activities that might draw the interest of competitors from other sports who may want to ‘transfer’ to a sport that could be open to them as athletic activities that can span a lifetime. 

Of course, there are recreational leagues in many different sports for a wide variety of skill levels. These leagues allow us to continue to play at a less demanding level, though they also bring with them a few other challenges, ranging from injury to conditioning and even to the skill level at which we play. There are lots of ups and downs to recreational sports as a follow up for the competitive athlete, and the degree to which playing can be fulfilling varies from person to person. Which makes them a perfect topic for our conversation

Whether these are helpful or not to us after we finish competing is an area that we can explore both in the comment section.  

Discussion questions: 

• Do you continue to participate in your primary sport in a non-competitive way, or would you if that opportunity were to arise? 
• Does the idea of competing in a recreational sport other than the one in which you competed appeal to you?
• Are recreational sports a fulfilling outlet for your competitive side, or just a healthy outlet or way to stay in shape?