The fall season: transition time for athletes

Over the last few weeks, I have seen quite a few athletes who are leaving for college for their freshman year. Some are going to schools close to home in Texas, while others are heading off to schools in the Midwest, New England, and the West Coast.

I am grateful to have spent time with these athletes before they left. We talked about their sadness about leaving home, family, and friends, their joy about starting a new phase of their lives, and their anxiety about being on their own and trying to make their college team.

So many transitions at once

Their lives as sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, and athletes are changing profoundly. The athletic identity that was central in high school is suddenly one of many freshmen trying to prove themselves. The family system back home is reorganizing without them.

What helps

Name the transitions out loud. Acknowledge the grief alongside the excitement. Stay in regular but not suffocating contact. Trust that the discomfort of the first semester is part of the process, not a sign something is wrong. And if anxiety, homesickness, or performance issues persist past a reasonable adjustment window, get support early rather than late.

This is one of the most formative seasons of an athlete's life. Treat it that way.