WHY WE DO IT
The transition away from a life devoted to athletic training and performance often involves a shift in identity, purpose, routine and connectedness. This is most keenly felt when the shift to life beyond sport is not voluntarily made (ie. you get hurt, you get cut/released, you lose your passion or interest). Without a proper support network and easy access to mentors, advisors and professionals who can walk with them as they navigate the choices, challenges and emotions that life beyond sport brings, athletes can find themselves adrift and uncertain.
Many high-performance sports teams and organizations say the right things about athlete well-being and well-roundedness. In reality though, high-performance athletes often end up being treated like a commodity or resource rather than an ongoing investment. They are valued for their sporting performance, but little organizational effort or attention is paid to the development of life skills and perspectives that will lead to success in life beyond sport and apart from the team or organization.
That’s where Next Shift Network comes in. Recognizing that high-performance sporting organizations value and are typically focused on success and the revenue, funding or sponsorships that flow from that success, Next Shift Network focusses on assisting the athletes in those organizations to optimize their sporting experiences, to expand their perspectives and interests, and to prepare themselves to successfully navigate the choices and opportunities they will encounter away from competitive sport. We empower them to be confident, self-aware, resilient and well-balanced human beings who are using their sport-based experiences to their best advantage in life.
Many high-performance sports teams and organizations say the right things about athlete well-being and well-roundedness. In reality though, high-performance athletes often end up being treated like a commodity or resource rather than an ongoing investment. They are valued for their sporting performance, but little organizational effort or attention is paid to the development of life skills and perspectives that will lead to success in life beyond sport and apart from the team or organization.
That’s where Next Shift Network comes in. Recognizing that high-performance sporting organizations value and are typically focused on success and the revenue, funding or sponsorships that flow from that success, Next Shift Network focusses on assisting the athletes in those organizations to optimize their sporting experiences, to expand their perspectives and interests, and to prepare themselves to successfully navigate the choices and opportunities they will encounter away from competitive sport. We empower them to be confident, self-aware, resilient and well-balanced human beings who are using their sport-based experiences to their best advantage in life.