The Decision to Quit Your Sport Senior Year
It’s your senior year of high school. You’ve been playing the sport you love for years, and you’re finally starting to see some real success. But then, something happens that makes you question whether or not you want to continue playing.
Maybe an injury forces you to miss part of the season. Or maybe you just don’t feel like you’re improving as much as you used to. Whatever the reason, you start to wonder if it’s time to hang up your cleats and call it quits.
Deciding whether or not to quit your sport can be a tough decision. On one hand, you may feel like you’re giving up on a dream or passion that you’ve had for years. On the other hand, you may feel like you’re finally ready to move on to something new.
Here are a few things to consider if you’re trying to decide whether or not to quit your sport:
Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Quit
Miss Out on Opportunities To Improve Your Skills: If you’ve been playing your sport for a while, you likely have developed some strengths and weaknesses. To improve as an athlete, it’s important to continue practicing and playing against the competition.
Rob You The Chance To Enjoy Your Sport One Last Time: Playing your sport is fun to stay active and socialize with friends. Some of my best memories have come during my high school track practices and meets with my friends/teammates. Those are memories that will stay with me forever.
Rob You The Opportunity To Achieve Personal Goals: You may have set for yourself in relation to your sport. Looking back, you may regret not achieving the goals you set out for yourself when you began.
Could Affect Future Regarding Scholarships: When you apply for college, they look at your extracurriculars and sports to see if you’re well-rounded. So, weigh the pros and cons before making a decision!
Reasons Why You SHOULD Quit
More Time To Focus on Your Studies: This is especially important if you’re planning on going to college. But even if you’re not, senior year is still a critical time academically. You don’t want anything to get in the way of your grades.
You May Be Burned Out: After years of practice and games, it’s understandable if you’re no longer enjoying it. If you’re only staying on the team because you feel like you have to. Trying out different activities can help you figure out your passions and interests. This can be especially beneficial if you’re unsure what you want to do after high school.
Should I Quit My Sport?
Overall, there are a few things to consider before quitting your sport. If you’re not passionate about it, it might be time to walk away if it could negatively affect your future or if it will damage your relationships with your teammates.
But if you still love the sport and feel like you can handle the challenges of school and competition, then go for it! The choice is ultimately up to you. Take the reasons I gave above and make a pros and cons list of what you believe is most important to you. That will help you make your final decision.