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 end of sports career
Unfinished Business: 5 Insights When Your Athletic Season is Sidelined by a Pandemic
Unfinished Business: 5 Insights When Your Athletic Season is Sidelined by a Pandemic

The reality of COVID-19 related impact on sports is brutal. “This is going to last far longer than we care to imagine,” they say. We’ve got to get used to a “new norm”, we are advised. Maybe a new norm seems impossible to accept right now, and fear and uncertainty are weighing heavy. Maybe it feels like you’ve been blocked off from one of the most significant parts of yourself. Maybe you are wondering if it’s okay to feel so devastated when many others are suffering far greater losses like losing their jobs and not knowing how to pay their rent or feed their kids. While these are new experiences to the vast majority of all the “sidelined” athletes in the world right now, this is a familiar space for us at Sidelined USA.

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Becoming SidelinedChristine Pinaltocoronavirus and athletes, coronavirus, athletics, sidelined, Sidelined athletes, end of sports career, end to sports career, sports cancellations, #findthegrind, #meaningfulwayforward, #mentalshift, pandemic, athletic dreams, March Madness cancelled, NCAA spring sports cancelled, athletic trainers sidelined athletes, athletic trainer resources, athletic trainer toolbox Comment
Recommendations for the Permanently Sidelined Athlete
Recommendations for the Permanently Sidelined Athlete

It is normal and healthy to experience a period of sadness following a career-ending injury. Take some time to come to terms with what has happened. It will help you to move forward when you’re ready.

Talk about it. It can be beneficial to express your feelings to someone that you trust.

Identify those people who can provide support and encouragement in coping with your injury.

 

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Becoming SidelinedChristine PinaltoRecommendations Permanently Sidelined Athletes, Help Athletes Career Ending Injuries, Athletes Forced Retirement, Career Ending Injuries, career ending injuries, end of sports career, end to sports career, permanently sidelined, sidelined, Sidelined athletes, medical disqualification, medically disqualified athlete
Becoming Sidelined: Understanding the Grief Process
Becoming Sidelined: Understanding the Grief Process

Permanently sidelined athletes can expect to go through a grieving process as they adjust to their new reality of life beyond their sport. Research shows that most sidelined athletes experience the same stages of grief. Understanding what an athlete can expect to experience when coping with the loss of his/her sport can be a powerful piece of knowledge, both for the athlete and his/her family.

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Becoming Sidelined, Meaningful SupportChristine Pinaltogrief loss of sport, loss of sport, career-ending injury, sidelined, medical retirement, medical disqualification, grief athletes, loss athletes, end of sports career