Sidelined USA
Supporting, resourcing, and advocating for permanently-sidelined student-athletes

Resources

Insightful articles for helping permanently-sidelined athletes find a meaningful way forward.

Posts tagged athlete for life
Adjusting Your Gameplan:  Transitioning from One Dream to Your Next Play
Adjusting Your Gameplan:  Transitioning from One Dream to Your Next Play

As a child, you never expect your biggest dreams to come to an end so suddenly. As an athlete, you hope that you’re able to control your own destiny. Unfortunately, the reality is that for many of us, these hopes and expectations take a U-turn when we’re least expecting it, and force our hand in life a bit earlier than we had planned for. 

Grasping the reality of an early end to your athletic career is certainly a tough pill to swallow.

For some it may be all they have ever known and loved.

Read More
Beyond The GameChristine PinaltoSidelined athletes, sidelined athlete, sidelined athletes, sidelined, coaches sidelined athletes, sport retirement, permanently sidelined, helping sidelined athletes, post-retirement, post sports days, career ending injury, Career Ending Injuries, career ending injuries, end to sports career, athlete for life, athlete transition, athletes, gameplan, grit, mental health athletes, mental vigilance, early retirement sports, sports psychologist, sports psychology, loss of sport, competitive spirit, sports coping strategies, transition sports, sport retirement concussion, coping mechanisms sports, athlete, athletic identity, athletic injury, athletic trainers, Athletes Forced Retirement, medical disqualification, medically disqualified athlete, coping strategies, rebuilding, competitive edge, MDQ athlete, emotional recovery, identity crisis, Help Athletes Career Ending Injuries, retired athletes, Recommendations Permanently Sidelined Athletes, life beyond the game
Life Beyond Sports: Shedding Our Athletic Armor
Life Beyond Sports: Shedding Our Athletic Armor

Sports do indeed offer valuable life experiences. We learn incredible skills such as persistence, work ethic, and how to set and work towards goals. We push our limits and learn about our own physical and mental strength. We learn how to sacrifice and discipline ourselves as we work through challenges. Ultimately, we experience a deep sense of passion and purpose as we try to attain our highest potential in sport.

Unfortunately, we also realize that in order to succeed in such a competitive world, we need to protect ourselves. So, we start to grow thick skin and a type of protective outer armor.

Read More
Beyond The GameChristine Pinaltolife beyond the game, athlete for life, Athletes Forced Retirement, medically disqualified athlete, medical disqualification, Sidelined athletes, sidelined, sidelined athletes, sidelined athlete, parents sidelined athletes, coaches sidelined athletes, forever sidelined, helping sidelined athletes, permanently sidelined, sport retirement, sport retirement concussion, loss of sport, post sports days, transition sports, end to sports career, coping mechanisms sports, sports psychology, sports psychologist, athlete transition, athletic identity, athletic armor, athlete, athletes, life after sport, life after sports, athletic injury, career ending injury, Career Ending Injuries, career ending injuries, Help Athletes Career Ending Injuries, athletic trainers, athletic trainers sidelined athletes, early retirement sports, internal coping mechanisms sports, sports coping strategies, internal healing sports injury, adjustment life after sport
Beyond the Game: Harnessing Your Competitive Edge for Life
Beyond the Game: Harnessing Your Competitive Edge for Life

The room is so very bland.  That icky not-quite-beige, not-quite-white color.  My heart is racing. Tiny beads of sweat are starting to form on my forehead.  I can’t sit still, my legs bouncing in nervous anticipation. The doctor walks in, his face as bland as the walls.  I try to make a read on what’s coming next, but can’t. File folder in hand, he sits down. 

“Well, it is not good news.  Your MRI shows a full thickness tear in your meniscus.  I think we can fix it, but it would be my recommendation that you never skate again.” 

Wait, what?!  What did he just say? 

Read More
Beyond The GameChristine PinaltoSidelined athletes, sidelined athlete, sidelined athletes, sidelined, coaches sidelined athletes, parents sidelined athletes, helping sidelined athletes, forever sidelined, permanently sidelined, Recommendations Permanently Sidelined Athletes, athletic trainers sidelined athletes, career ending injury, Career Ending Injuries, career ending injuries, medical disqualification, end to sports career, Help Athletes Career Ending Injuries, medically disqualified athlete, athletes identity, athletic identity, competitive edge, competitive spirit, athlete for life, athlete, athletes with depression, athletic injury, MDQ athlete, life beyond the game, transition sports, post sports days, sport retirement, loss of sport