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Switch the Play in the media

FitPro Magazine spotlights Switch the Play's work supporting athletes navigating life after sport

Posted on: 26 February 2026 by Adam Daniel

This article was written by Adam Daniel, a Human Performance & Leadership Coach who we have the privilege of working with at Switch the Play, leading our learning and development programmes, and was originally featured in the January/February issue of FitPro Magazine.

FitPro digital magazine is an exclusive benefit for FitPro Professional members and a leading source of current, evidence-based content. You can find out more on their website.

In the following piece, Adam explores what life can look like after sport and why that transition isn’t always straightforward. From shifts in identity and routine to the uncertainty of what comes next, he highlights the realities many athletes face when their playing days end. Drawing on research, lived experience, and the work of Switch the Play Foundation, he shares practical insights into how athletes can be better supported to build fulfilling careers and lives beyond competition.

It’s a thoughtful read for anyone working in performance, fitness or wellbeing.

Life after sport: Supporting the silent struggles of retired athletes

Few athletes are prepared for retirement, but Switch the Play is helping with the transition, explains Adam Daniel.

Every athlete knows it will come – that moment when the roar of the crowd fades, the routine dissolves and the boots, gloves or goggles are hung up for the last time. What few are prepared for is what comes next.

Whether it’s planned or forced through injury, deselection or burnout, athletic retirement is one of the most overlooked life transitions in sport. And it’s one that carries a unique weight. Unlike most careers, sport ends early – often before an athlete turns 30. For some, even younger.

And when it ends, it ends completely. Suddenly. Finally. Forever.

And that’s where the real challenge begins.

The identity crisis beneath the surface

Research has long shown that athletes don’t just play their sport, they become it. Their routines, identities and even social circles are shaped around performance. So, when that structure disappears, it often brings with it a tidal wave of psychological, emotional and social turbulence.

The academic literature refers to this as a “biopsychosocial disruption”1. A more human way to say it? It’s a personal earthquake. Former athletes report feeling lost. They grieve the loss of their identity. Anxiety and depression can creep in. Sleep and routine fall apart. Self-worth takes a hit, particularly for those who exit sport involuntarily or without a plan for what’s next.

That’s why Switch the Play exists

At Switch the Play Foundation, we’ve made it our mission to support athletes before, during and long after they transition out of sport. We believe that no athlete should feel alone, lost or unprepared for life after the final whistle.

Founded by a group of former elite athletes who had felt the void first hand, our charity was
born out of a simple yet critical need: to fill the gap between sport and the next chapter of life. We’re proud to be the UK’s only full-time charity dedicated solely to athlete transition. And, while the world celebrates medals and match-winners, we walk beside those navigating the quieter, often lonelier chapters after the curtain falls. Five ways Switch the Play enables athletes beyond sport.

At Switch the Play Foundation, our work spans five core programmes – each offering targeted, human-centred support to help athletes transition with confidence, clarity and care.

1) Switched On - A free development and wellbeing service designed to help athletes thrive during and beyond their sporting careers. It offers personalised support through six free coaching or mentoring sessions, access to a psychological care pathway with funded therapy, immersive personal development programmes, career insight days with industry experts and a hub full of transition resources. Athletes also join a supportive community, creating space for peer connection and shared growth.

2) Mental health support - The Psychological Care Pathway: When the cheering stops, the emotional load can hit hard. That’s why we created a clear and confidential route into tailored psychological support. Our care pathway offers independent triage by trained professionals, with access to appropriate therapeutic services, a bespoke wellbeing plan and regular follow-up to ensure no athlete is left to navigate their mental health alone.

3) Half Turn: This programme supports non-league footballers both on and off the pitch. Through masterclasses, mental health awareness sessions, mentoring and career support, Half Turn helps athletes explore their identity, manage their wellbeing and gain clarity around what’s next – whether they continue in football or step into new territory. Delivered in partnership with clubs, it’s a powerful blend of personal growth and practical support.

4) Evolve and Thrive: This is our flagship transition programme designed to run across 12 months. Evolve and Thrive combines structured online learning, mentoring from former elite athletes and in-person connection points to help individuals navigate the complexities of identity, purpose, mindset and career direction post-sport. It’s where lived experience meets expert guidance, creating a safe, empowering space for athletes to truly evolve and thrive.

5) LifeSkills in Football: LifeSkills is our bespoke masterclass programme delivered to Premier League academies and pro clubs. It’s not about lectures; it’s about facilitated exploration. Through themes like (Re)Branding You, Transferrable Value and Power of Connection(s), players develop life-readiness skills in interactive, creative sessions. Programmes are tailored by age and stage, building self-awareness and confidence over multiple touchpoints. It’s purposeful. Player-led. And genuinely impactful.

From pitch to PT – new identities in health and wellbeing

One fascinating pathway we’ve seen many athletes explore is the move into personal training, coaching or wellbeing consultancy. It makes sense – these individuals have lived experience of discipline, motivation and physical performance. What they often need help with is turning that experience into a business.

We’ve mentored former footballers who now run thriving community fitness spaces. Olympians who support young athletes with mindset and motivation. Even an ex professional rugby player now leading corporate wellbeing retreats. What ties them together is this: a reinvention of identity and a repurposing of
passion.

Many say they’re more fulfilled now than they ever were in sport, not because the spotlight is brighter; instead, because their impact is deeper.

The research is clear – we need to act early

Decades of sports psychology research now point to the same truth: that successful transition requires early planning, support beyond sport and a shift in how organisations, coaches and governing bodies view their duty of care. Athletes with narrow identities – those who see themselves only as ‘the swimmer’ or ‘the striker’ – are more likely to struggle.

Those with dual careers, broader support networks and post-sport plans fare better. Yet the reality? Many athletes feel organisational support disappears once they’re no longer contributing to medals or league tables. Some don’t even know support exists.

This is where charities like Switch the Play step in, and we can’t do it alone.

Funded by passion, powered by community

As a small charity, we rely on fundraising, grants and the generosity of partners who believe in our mission. We’re grateful for every pound, every corporate sponsor and every individual who steps up to support athletes through transition.

Whether that’s funding a mentor training programme, supporting an athlete’s career coaching or helping us expand our mental health services, the impact is tangible. And we’re always looking for new ways to collaborate, particularly with those in the fitness, wellbeing or personal development space.

If you’re a personal trainer, a gym owner or a wellness coach, there could be opportunities to partner with us – whether through mentoring, training opportunities or co-delivering parts of our programme.

Beyond the field – how you can support

Transition is not a moment, it’s a process. It needs early planning, long-term care and collaboration between individuals, clubs, charities and society. At Switch the Play, we believe no athlete should face that process alone. And, with your help, they don’t have to. Perhaps you’re reading this as a business owner, a CSR lead or someone with a passion for purpose. If so, there’s a powerful way you can support this mission.

Our Athlete Experience Days are an opportunity for your organisation to:

Sport doesn’t last forever. Yet the impact athletes can make beyond it? That lasts a lifetime. And no one should have to play that alone.

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