--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When a lot of athletes get done playing…" description: "\"When a lot of athletes get done playing, they end up in some really tough positions. They have a hard time transitioning because their identity is wrap..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/aaron-kampman-63467_athlete_when-a-lot-of-athletes-get-done-playing_2377944.jpg" --- # When a lot of athletes get done playing, they end up in… ![“When a lot of athletes get done playing, they end up in some really tough positions. They have a hard time transitioning because their identity is wrapped up in who they are as a player and what they do rather than who they can be in Christ. We desire to help people understand the invitation that…” quote by Aaron Kampman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/aaron-kampman-63467_athlete_when-a-lot-of-athletes-get-done-playing_2377944.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/aaron-kampman-63467_athlete_when-a-lot-of-athletes-get-done-playing_2377944.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/aaron-kampman-63467_athlete_when-a-lot-of-athletes-get-done-playing_2377944.jpg) > “When a lot of athletes get done playing, they end up in some really tough positions. They have a hard time transitioning because their identity is wrapped up in who they are as a player and what they do rather than who they can be in Christ. We desire to help people understand the invitation that God has given each one of us as Christ followers to be a part of this global redemptive story. If you can't give your life to something with meaning and purpose of that magnitude then there's nothing there.” [Aaron Kampman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-kampman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Athletes often struggle after retirement because their self‑concept is tied to sport rather than broader purpose. **In simple terms:** Athletes lose identity after sports. Key Takeaway Find purpose beyond sport. Themes identity purpose transition faith meaning Mood reflective hopeful serious Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career retirement - coaching - mentoring - community service - faith groups Key Concepts self‑concept spiritual calling life narrative Questions to Reflect On - How can you redefine yourself after a career ends? - What role does faith play in your life purpose? A Different Perspective Transition can be hindered by lack of support or mental health challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Athletes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletes/) [Athletes Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletes-playing-3235410/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Christ follower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ-follower/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Followers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/followers/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-time/) [Hard times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-times/) [Help people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-people/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Invitations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invitations/) [Lot Athletes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot-athletes-697330/) [Magnitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magnitude/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) [Player Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player-christ-5879779/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough/) [Transitioning Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transitioning-identity-5879780/) ## Related quotes > [The two most important things to athletes, playing time and money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paxson/the-two-most-important-things-to-athletes-playing-time-and-money/) [John Paxson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paxson/) > [I'd like to see the high schools put in a rule that limits recruitable athletes from playing on teams outside a 100-mile radius from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/i-d-like-to-see-the-high-schools-put-in-a-rule-that-limits/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [To me, doing the Olympics in 1992 in Barcelona for NBC, just seeing the Dream Team take the floor, was a thrill for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-albert/to-me-doing-the-olympics-in-1992-in-barcelona-for-nbc-just-seeing-the/) [Marv Albert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-albert/) > [There was something about being in Rio, being around the other Olympic athletes and playing for the U.S. It was the most special experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-sock/there-was-something-about-being-in-rio-being-around-the-other-olympic/) [Jack Sock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-sock/) > [The way we use our money is a barometer of our present spiritual condition. Our neglect of the poor illustrates much about where our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/the-way-we-use-our-money-is-a-barometer-of-our-present-spiritual/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [The journey of following Christ might not be easy, but its certainly worth sticking out for the amazing future that awaits you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-seaport/the-journey-of-following-christ-might-not-be-easy-but-its-certainly/) [Pauline Seaport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-seaport/) > [The decision to be a follower of Christ is for life there is no throwing in the towel or retirement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-seaport/the-decision-to-be-a-follower-of-christ-is-for-life-there-is-no/) [Pauline Seaport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-seaport/) > [“The unChristian faith is distressing. So is our culture. Yet to see spiritual resurgence among Mosaics and Busters, I hope our response to this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kinnaman/the-unchristian-faith-is-distressing-so-is-our-culture-yet-to-see/) [David Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kinnaman/) > [Christianity has always been against the flow of culture and continues to call us in the opposite direction of the way the world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-west/christianity-has-always-been-against-the-flow-of-culture-and/) [Matthew West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-west/) > [“Yet somehow many have come to believe that a person can be a “Christian” without being like Christ. A “follower” who doesn’t follow. How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/yet-somehow-many-have-come-to-believe-that-a-person-can-be-a/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [“For the Christ-follower,small spiritual adjustments make huge eternal differences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-stocker/for-the-christ-follower-small-spiritual-adjustments-make-huge-eternal/) [Todd Stocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-stocker/) > [Give other Christians permission to be different from you. You're not the only Christ-follower in the world, and neither are you the most committed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-other-christians-permission-to-be-different-from-you-you-re-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don't just bring people to church; bring them to Christ. Churches are filled with church goers but not Christ followers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramon-m-torres/don-t-just-bring-people-to-church-bring-them-to-christ-churches-are/) [Ramon M. Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramon-m-torres/) > [Life as a Christ follower will always be a learning process of depending less on our own strength and more on God's power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/life-as-a-christ-follower-will-always-be-a-learning-process-of/) [Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/) > [Voting is a right that has been given to every American; however, as Christ followers, our votes should reflect our God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-johnson/voting-is-a-right-that-has-been-given-to-every-american-however-as/) [Monica Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-johnson/) ## More by Aaron Kampman > [What you learn about yourself is that you continue to see that you're selfish. It's so easy, in our Laodicean culture with all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-kampman/what-you-learn-about-yourself-is-that-you-continue-to-see-that-you-re/) [Aaron Kampman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-kampman/) > [I had a tremendous upbringing and foundation but as others like me have experienced, when you go to college, mom and dad are no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-kampman/i-had-a-tremendous-upbringing-and-foundation-but-as-others-like-me/) [Aaron Kampman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-kampman/) > [The reality is we are 0-3. The reality is that we can still be a very good football team. We need to show that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-kampman/the-reality-is-we-are-0-3-the-reality-is-that-we-can-still-be-a-very/) [Aaron Kampman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-kampman/) > [Christ was on display early in my childhood. Both my mother and father were living examples of what it meant to live for Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-kampman/christ-was-on-display-early-in-my-childhood-both-my-mother-and-father/) [Aaron Kampman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-kampman/) [Explore all 5 Aaron Kampman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-kampman/) ## More Athlete quotes > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [I'd noticed him watching me for a year or so, especially when we'd play games where there was running or jumping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/i-d-noticed-him-watching-me-for-a-year-or-so-especially-when-we-d/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [I think what bothers us about fighting sports isn't the damage to the athlete but the fact that you win by doing more harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gottschall/i-think-what-bothers-us-about-fighting-sports-isn-t-the-damage-to-the/) [Jonathan Gottschall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gottschall/) > [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [I think life is full of challenges and problems. I don't believe that anyone is perfect. We all make mistakes. It's not a bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-mansell/i-think-life-is-full-of-challenges-and-problems-i-don-t-believe-that/) [Nigel Mansell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-mansell/) > [I'd never been much of an athlete, due to a physical condition I'd had since birth (unathleticism). Perhaps if there were a sport centered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-d-never-been-much-of-an-athlete-due-to-a-physical-condition-i-d-had/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-didn-t-set-out-to-be-the-first-openly-gay-athlete-playing-in-a/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I like to push characters to extremes so they have to make really tough decisions and there is no life more extreme than that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/i-like-to-push-characters-to-extremes-so-they-have-to-make-really/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [I don't want to say names, but there are certain companies I won't work with because of previous people they've worked with. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/i-don-t-want-to-say-names-but-there-are-certain-companies-i-won-t/) [Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/) > [We are like highly trained athletes, who never run a race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/we-are-like-highly-trained-athletes-who-never-run-a-race/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [I didn't aspire to be a good sport; 'champion' was good enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-perry/i-didn-t-aspire-to-be-a-good-sport-champion-was-good-enough-for-me/) [Fred Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-perry/) > [Treat yourself like an overweight, out of shape person and that's what you will be. Why not train and treat yourself like an athlete?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chalene-johnson/treat-yourself-like-an-overweight-out-of-shape-person-and-that-s-what/) [Chalene Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chalene-johnson/) [Browse all 2,455 Athlete quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When a lot of athletes get done playing, they end up in some really tough positions. They have a hard time transitioning because their identity is wrapped up in who they are as a player and what they do rather than who they can be in Christ. We desire to help people understand the invitation that God has given each one of us as Christ followers to be a part of this global redemptive story. If you can't give your life to something with meaning and purpose of that magnitude then there's nothing there.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aaron Kampman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-kampman/when-a-lot-of-athletes-get-done-playing-they-end-up-in-some-really/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Athlete" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-kampman/when-a-lot-of-athletes-get-done-playing-they-end-up-in-some-really/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/aaron-kampman-63467_athlete_when-a-lot-of-athletes-get-done-playing_2377944.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/aaron-kampman-63467_athlete_when-a-lot-of-athletes-get-done-playing_2377944.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/aaron-kampman-63467_athlete_when-a-lot-of-athletes-get-done-playing_2377944.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When a lot of athletes get done playing, they end up in some really tough positions. They have a hard time…” — Aaron Kampman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Aaron Kampman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-kampman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When a lot of athletes get...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-kampman/when-a-lot-of-athletes-get-done-playing-they-end-up-in-some-really/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-kampman/when-a-lot-of-athletes-get-done-playing-they-end-up-in-some-really/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```