The other day, my sister and I were talking when we realized how much we both miss playing high school sports. The two of us grew up playing basketball, and watching college players compete has revitalized all these feelings; it made us miss the game. Basketball has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. For 13 years, it was my passion, my purpose, and what I dedicated myself to becoming the best at. Then suddenly, that chapter closed, and I couldn’t say “I play basketball” anymore when someone asked what I liked to do. All of a sudden, I felt myself missing the day-in and day-out grind, the burning in my lungs after conditioning, and my teammates who always supported me. So, what happens to high school athletes after graduation? Where does all that competitive drive go? Where does our new athletic chapter begin? I’m still figuring that out, but along the way, I’ve found a few things that have helped me reignite that spark and stay connected to the sport I love.
- Play pickup or intramural sports:
This might sound like an obvious suggestion, just play your sport, but it truly helps. I haven’t found anything that perfectly replaces the feeling of playing basketball every day with the same team. Still, joining pickup games or intramural leagues can fill some of that void. It gives you a chance to compete, stay active, and experience that sense of teamwork again, even if only for a little while.
- Lifting weights:Â Â
Many high school athletes lifted weights to become stronger and improve their performance, so continuing that habit can help maintain a sense of connection to their sport. While it’s not quite the same as competing, lifting offers a great way to challenge yourself. It allows you to channel that competitive drive inward, competing with yourself rather than competing against others. Plus, weightlifting has the added benefit of making you stronger and healthier overall.
- Coaching:
This has been one of the best ways I’ve reconnected with basketball. I’ve started helping coach youth clinics for players ages 6–14, and getting to share my passion and love for the game has been incredibly rewarding. On top of that, if you’re lucky, you’ll find a great community of coaches to work with people who make you feel like part of a team again, which is one of the things I miss most about playing.
Beginning to understand who I am and what my purpose is outside of basketball has been a challenging and ongoing journey. However, continuing to pursue physical activity and find ways to stay connected to a team has helped me immensely. Sports have shaped who I am and will always be a part of my life, just as they are for so many others. For anyone who relates to these feelings and misses the highs and lows of hustling for your team, I encourage you to keep finding joy in movement and, in turn, build a community of people who share that same passion for sports and connection alike.