Write your search in the input below and press enter.
Esc to close.

The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich

Peak Performance:
Not Just for Sports, for Life

  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
    • Recent
    • Athletes
    • Coaching
    • Sports Parenting
    • Sports Administrators
    • Life
    • Administrators
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Books
    • Videos
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Hello. Sign In

My Account
  • Login
  • Register
0
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk
Subscribe
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich
  • Recent
  • Athletes
  • Coaching
  • Sports Parenting
  • Life
  • Administrators
Home / Blog / Why Some Incredibly Talented Athletes Voluntarily Quit Sports

Why Some Incredibly Talented Athletes Voluntarily Quit Sports

By: Dr. Chris Stankovich | @DrStankovich | Aug 13, 2015

No Comments

-00f38363df4d1894

Many people assume that when someone is good at something, they also love doing it.  For example, when we see a talented athlete compete, we generally assume he or she loves playing sports.  While this is sometimes true, there are many instances where an athlete has natural talent playing a sport, yet does not truly enjoy it.  When this scenario occurs and the athlete eventually quits playing, people are often left wondering why the athlete quit — especially because of how talented the individual was when he or she competed.

Examining talent & interest

It is important to note that talent and interest, while sometimes overlapping, are two independent variables that should not be assumed to be the same.  Some talented athletes love to play, while others are naturally good at sports yet would rather spend their time doing something else.

I have counseled athletes who are good but don’t love playing, and witnessed firsthand the stress they feel competing for reasons beyond their own.  Often the athlete continues playing the sport because the team needs him, others expect him to continue to play, or a potential future college athletic scholarship may be in the balance.  Unfortunately, none of these reasons are intrinsically motivating, leaving the athlete distressed over being “stuck” conundrum: Quit and let people down, or continue to unhappily play?

Tips to help

  • Talk. If your child struggles being good at sports but not terribly interested in playing, be sure to talk openly and often.  Explain that people sometimes have natural abilities and talents doing things they don’t always enjoy — even when it comes to sports.
  • Consider help.  Consider professional sport psychology services to help determine if your child’s disinterest is temporary, or more a product of long-term thinking.  If it appears to be a temporary issue, try and help your child resolve the problem(s) and stay with the sport.
  • Problem solve.  If you discover that your child really does not enjoy playing the sport, and has thought this way for a long time, work together to develop an safe and healthy exit strategy and support your child through the process.
  • Develop a healthy identity.  Make sure that your child fully understands that his or her self-worth is not 100% tied to athletics.  Too often kids feel like their only importance is on the playing field, and it takes adults (parents & coaches) help them see their value beyond sports.
  • Skills for life.  If your child does decide to quit sports, help him or her identify and use all the Athletic Transferable Skills learned through sports and apply them to school, future career, and life experiences.

www.drstankovich.comcover225x225

 

Coaching, parenting, psychology, quit, retirement, sport, Stress, transition

  • Author
  • Comments
  • Details
Get to Know the Author

Dr. Chris Stankovich

Dr. Stankovich has written/co-written five books, including Positive Transitions for Student Athletes, The ParentsPlaybook, Mind of Steel.

Dr. Chris Stankovich

Latest Blog Posts

  • March 1, 2021 Important Team Building Success Tips for Coaches
  • February 16, 2021 Help Kids Overcome Pandemic Anxiety as they Head Back to School
  • February 10, 2021 Is Mark Cuban’s Remedy for National Anthem Protests the Right Move?
  • February 4, 2021 Former NFL Star Warns of Potential Problems Dealing with Sport Retirement
  • February 1, 2021 Lacking Social Interaction is Hitting Kids Hard through Pandemic

Comments are closed.

PREVIOUS POST

Learn this Fascinating Reason Why Your Child Might be Struggling with Sport Performance

NEXT POST

Learn About the Most Overlooked Aspect of Maximizing Sport Performance

Category

Amateur , Athletes , Athletic Counseling , Coaching , College , Communicating with Coach , Confidence , Cuts , Evaluating Talent , Goal Setting , Habit Change , Leadership , Leadership and Role Modeling , Mental Toughness , Off Field Issues , Performance Enhancement , Playing Time , Prep , Pro , Pro and College Sports , Psychology of Injury , Quitting , Social Responsibility , Sport Philosophy , Sport Psychology , Sport Sociology , Sport Specialization , Sport Transitions , Sports Administrators , Sports Culture and Society , Sports Leadership , Sports Parenting , Sports Performance Science , Sports Safety , Stress , Team Building , Training and Development , Travel Leagues , Uncategorized , Youth and Interscholastic Sports

Tags

Coaching, parenting, psychology, quit, retirement, sport, Stress, transition

  • Recent Posts
  • Most Read
  • Important Team Building Success Tips for Coaches
  • Help Kids Overcome Pandemic Anxiety as they Head Back to School
  • Is Mark Cuban's Remedy for National Anthem Protests the Right Move?
  • Former NFL Star Warns of Potential Problems Dealing with Sport Retirement
  • Lacking Social Interaction is Hitting Kids Hard through Pandemic
  • Parent Sports Pressure Can Leave Kids with Overwhelming Expectations
  • Overcome Adversity by Using this Important Mental Toughness Strategy
  • Challenges Endure for Student Athletes Managing Pandemic Stress & Related Concerns
  • Lacking Social Interaction is Hitting Kids Hard through Pandemic
  • Important Team Building Success Tips for Coaches
  • The Sports Doc on TV

    Catch Dr. Stankovich’s tv, radio, and print interviews and columns here!

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Watch Videos
  • Sport Performance Assessment

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Quickly and accurately test your level of mental toughness in just a few minutes using the Sport Performance Assessment.

    (SPA), an easy-to-use sport psychology system specially designed to help you REACH YOUR FULL ATHLETIC POTENTIAL.

    learn more
  • SportsSuccess360

    Life strategies for performance and character development for coaches, parents, and student athletes competing in youth and interscholastic sports.

    Life Strategies learn more
  • Contact Dr. Stankovich

    1395 Grandview Avenue Suite 6, Columbus OH 43212

    (614) 561-4482
    Media & General Inquiries
    information@drstankovich.com
    Sales & Product Support
    sales@drstankovich.com
  • About Dr. Stankovich

    • Media
    • Blog
    • Testimonials
  • Products

    • Toolkits
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Audio
    • iPhone Apps
  • Services

    • Athlete Performance Training
    • Parent Community Forum
    • Coach Education & Development
    • Athletic Crisis Response and Intervention
    • Drug & Alcohol Assessment
    • Life Success Programs
    • Counseling & Consulting Services
  • Blog
  • YouTube
  • twitter
  • facebook

All rights reserved © 2021 Advanced Human Performance Systems™

↓ ↓