SOCIAL

OVERVIEW: RETIREMENT

Before you hang up your cleats forever, take stock of your life and how involved you are with your club or team. Does the thought of retiring fill you with dread or fear? Have you made the decision but are already bored? 

No matter why or when, retirement from a sport can have a big impact on your life. It may mean more free time, fewer bruises, and less travel, but also loss of social activities, lower motivation for exercise, less accountability, and loss of the sport you love.

Retirement from your primary sport can be a scary thing (see Mental Health section), but it’s not the end – just a new beginning.

GIVE BACK TO
YOUR SPORT

How much have you gotten from your sport? How many cherished memories, life lessons, and long-time friends have you gained from athletics? If you feel your time on the playing field is done, then maybe it's time to help others find the same joy. 

  • Your team may need off-field help with organization, logistics, leadership, or fundraising.

  • Your organization needs referees, umpires, and coaches. 

  • If you can’t be directly involved, you can continue to support your team by showing games or events.

  • Youth sports need your help to grow the love of the game in younger generations.

STAY CONNECTED

Most sports and teams have an alumni association. This can be in the form of “senior” teams, group chats, email list serves, or alumni matches (the retired players face off against the current players). All of these are great ways to stay involved, catch up with friends and teammates, and have fun. 

If your team or sport doesn’t have one, then start it!

KEEP PLAYING

Just because you can’t play the same sport you’ve been playing for years doesn’t mean you can’t find a new one. And it certainly doesn’t mean your competitive days are over. 

Most major cities and counties have senior leagues, divided by age and sport. Tennis, softball, running, weightlifting, and pickleball are common. However, just about every sport is still available to you and can even take you to international competitions. 

Georgia Golden Olympics
Offers track and field sports, pickleball, volleyball, swimming, and more.

National Senior Game Association
Offers both team sports and individual sports.

World Master Games
The 2025 games were held in Taipei in 2025 and platformed just about every sport. 

BECOME A ROLE MODEL

Many people have a mental picture of what growing old means. We form these in part based on what we’ve seen growing up. These mental stereotypes can shape how we age (see Mental Health for more information). The more active, healthier role models that we encounter, the more likely we are to think positively about growing older (1). You may not have had these types of role models to look up to when you were younger, so it's time to be that person now.

REFERENCES

  1. Rothermund, K., & de Paula Couto, M. C Clara. P. (2024). Age stereotypes: Dimensions, origins, and consequences. Current Opinion in Psychology, 55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101747