Nicki Uchin’s Post

✨ATHLETES ALL OR NOTHING ATTITUDE✨ - With Former CFL All-Star Ken Evraire For most professional athletes, it's an all-or-nothing attitude. They are driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence, knowing no other way. This single-minded dedication shapes their entire identity. When their sports careers end, the transition to life after sports is a challenging journey. The intensity and focus that defined their athletic lives are hard to replicate in other fields, leaving them grappling with a sense of loss and searching for new purpose. This experience is difficult for others to understand unless they have lived through it themselves. However, navigating life after sports with that same all-or-nothing attitude can be a powerful asset. Athletes can channel their dedication into new passions, setting ambitious goals and working tirelessly to achieve them. Whether it’s starting a new career, pursuing education, or engaging in community service, the skills and discipline honed in sports can lead to remarkable success. Embracing this new chapter with the same drive and determination can turn the end of one journey into the beginning of another, equally fulfilling adventure. Surrounding themselves with supportive people who understand and respect their journey can also provide the encouragement needed to thrive in this next phase of life. #BeyondTheGame #AthleteTransition #NewGoalsNewJourney #LifeAfterSports #Change

🏆 Embracing Patience and Persistence: The Winning Combination 🏆 As a young sportsman I am, I've learned firsthand the indispensable value of hard work, patience, and seizing opportunities at the right moment. 🌟 In the pursuit of success, it's not just about the sweat and tears we pour into our training sessions or matches, but also about the resilience to persevere through setbacks and the wisdom to recognize when the time is ripe for action. 🚀 Timing is Everything: Just like in sports, timing plays a crucial role in our professional lives. Sometimes, the best opportunities don't come knocking when we expect them to. It's about staying prepared and being patient for that perfect moment to strike. 💪 The Power of Persistence: Success rarely comes overnight. It's the result of countless hours of dedication, relentless practice, and unwavering determination. Every setback is an opportunity to learn, grow, and come back stronger than ever before. 🔥 Never Give Up: In the face of challenges and obstacles, it's easy to feel disheartened and tempted to throw in the towel. But true champions never give up. They push through the pain, stay focused on their goals, and emerge victorious against all odds. 🌟 Final Thoughts: I learned from parents, that whether on the field or in the boardroom, the principles of hard work, patience, and perseverance remain the same. So let's embrace the journey, trust the process, and remember that our greatest victories often come after our toughest battles. Keep pushing forward, and success will surely follow, this is what I am told, and my time will come. #HardWork #Patience #Persistence #NeverGiveUp #Success #Sportsmanship #Opportunity

Later... Later...it won't matter. Later it won't matter if they were the best on the team, if they were the fastest on the field, or if they had the most impressive stats. It won't matter if they were recognized for their accomplishments or if they ever received the title of "MVP". It won't matter if their travel team was the best in the league, or if other coaches ever pointed them out and said, "Keep an eye on that kid." It won't matter if they started every game or scored the game-winning touchdown. Don't get me wrong, I'm every ATHLETE'S biggest fan. I LOVE watching them in all of their PURSUITS. I'm proud and honored to do so. And yes, I believe YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME... (and I think that's okay!) But sometimes, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that so much of this sports-life and the sports seasons are indeed temporary! We get caught up in the competitiveness of wanting to be the best, when really it's kind of insignificant in the bigger picture of life. Later, the things that WILL matter are the other skills we as Athletes are learning during our time playing ball! The skills we'll only learn if we put our egos aside and have fewer conversations about stats, offers and nil, and more conversations about things like— Faith in God. Kindness to others. Community Impact. Humility. Hard work and Smart work. Being a team player. Supporting our peers. Enduring when things don't go our way. Pain & Purpose. Right now, sports are such a big part of our culture; our life; our world. From the outside it seems like all we do as athletes is work on things like proper technique and fundamentals of the game—and that's part of it, sure. But really, this is an even bigger chance for us to learn lessons about life. And when we've hung up our cleats for the very last time, I hope to help empower every athlete to walk into the next season of their life knowing they haven't just forged themselves into an accomplished athlete, but more importantly an incredible human being. Leauxve, Coach Orlando Gunn s/o to Casey Huff #PositionToWin

I am incredibly thankful for my sports background, spanning from youth to collegiate sports, and even now in my current status as a "washed-up athlete." The invaluable lessons I've learned through sports have seamlessly integrated into my professional life, shaping me into the resilient individual I am today. Sports have instilled in me a profound strength that I carry with pride. They have taught me the importance of perseverance, even in moments of extreme exhaustion, the value of fostering a strong team that I can trust and lean on at any time, how to continue being optimistic no matter the obstacle set in front, and the skill of transforming setbacks into opportunities. #SportsandCoaching #LifeLessons #ProfessionalGrowth #Resilience #OpportunityMindset

Navigating life after college as a Division 1 athlete has been a journey filled with highs and lows, but one that has ultimately led to profound growth and self-discovery. 🏅 Transitioning from the structured, goal-oriented world of collegiate sports to the vast, often ambiguous landscape of post-collegiate life has been a challenge. The dedication, discipline, and resilience honed on the field have undoubtedly been assets, but finding a new sense of purpose has required introspection and adaptability. Athletics taught me the value of teamwork, perseverance, and setting ambitious goals. However, the real world doesn't come with a playbook. There’s no coach providing constant guidance or teammates working towards a common objective. This shift has compelled me to redefine success on my own terms and to seek out new passions and opportunities. Embracing this uncertainty has been crucial. I've learned to leverage my athletic mindset to tackle new professional challenges, network with diverse individuals, and continuously push my boundaries. Whether it's through new career ventures, further education, or personal development, the journey to finding one's purpose is ongoing and ever-evolving. To fellow athletes making this transition: Lean on the qualities that made you successful in sports. Your dedication, work ethic, and resilience are powerful tools in any arena. Don’t be afraid to seek guidance, explore new paths, and most importantly, be patient with yourself. Growth takes time, and every step is part of the process. Grateful for the journey and excited for what lies ahead. Let's connect and support each other in this transition from athletes to professionals. #LifeAfterSports #AthleteMindset #CareerTransition #FindingPurpose #D1Athlete

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I got asked last week, "if you could do one thing - just one thing to change sport, what would it be?". Easy. Make it more fun. Why do we play golf with our friends on the weekend? Because it's fun and because it's fun - and we're playing with our friends - we love it and we keep doing it. Why do we meet our friends at the local park and kick a football around? Because it's fun and because it's fun - and we're playing with our friends - we love it and we keep doing it. Why do we call up our friends, meet them at the local court and shoot baskets together? Because it's fun and because it's fun - and we're playing with our friends - we love it and we keep doing it. Maybe instead of hiring CEOs from business backgrounds and with MBAs we need to recruit our sports leaders from the cast of Saturday Night Live!! And what about "high performance sport" you say? If they're having fun - they keep coming back. If they keep coming back - they keep getting better. If they keep getting better - and if they've got a little talent, resilience, passion and the desire and drive to see how far they can go - high performance will be fine. But if they ain't coming - your high performance sport program doesn't exist - and that's not funny. #waynegoldsmith #wgcoaching #juniorsport #sportsparticipation #growingsport #makesportfun Photo by Call Me Fred on Unsplash

My family is a family of athletes. The courts and the fields are where I learned to "play the game" of life and its where my kids are learning important lessons about navigating life on and off the field. As I sat in the stands today at the season opener both my son's baseball game and my daughter's soccer game, I thought about the most critical lessons sports had taught me about coming into a new season. Here are a few of the lessons I wrote down on a concession stand napkin. And yes, their numbers intentionally add to 💯 💪 You won't be able to perform at your best if your sleep, nutrition, and physical condition aren't optimal. ➡️ The same strategy doesn't work against every opponent or every team. If what you are doing isn't work, change it up! ❤️ Having a fan in the stands to provide encouragement will help you to push through challenges and make success that much sweeter. (My son always finds me in the stands before he takes the field and as he heads back into the dugout. I don't know for how much longer it will last, but it means everything to me that he knows I am there and that I am his biggest fan!) 📚 Learning to apply familiar skills and capabilities in a new context takes time. Be realistic and give yourself and others time and grace at the start. 💪 Mental toughness is a skill. It requires the same if not more effort to learn and grow than other skills. It also requires regular work outs to stay in shape. 🚫 No one likes a show-off. Focus on being part of the team before you worry about being the star. 🎯 You learn more in the games you lose than the games you win. 🌟 Having a coach to offer expert guidance, help see and navigate the broader playing field, and provide constructive feedback is a game-changer! What would you add to this list from your experience? #landmines #goldmines #lessonslearned #careerstrategies #momlife #sportsmom #highperformance

🌟Reflecting on a Season of Achievement and Growth in Soccer⚽️ Yesterday, I had the pleasure of facilitating an interactive reflection session with my son's school soccer team. We celebrated an incredible season, highlighted by finishing 12th in the entire province—a significant achievement for the team! We kicked off the session with players and the coach sharing their most memorable moments. From scoring a first goal against a rival team to clinching a regional championship in a thrilling nail-biter, and even avenging a previous loss with a victory on penalty shots—the memories were abundant and inspiring. To set the tone, we watched a couple of videos of boys around the world expressing what soccer means to them and the invaluable lessons they've learned from the sport. This led into an introspective activity where each player selected a strip of paper with a skill written on it and answered these questions: 1. How does this skill manifest in your soccer experience this past season? 2. Share a specific example of using this skill during the season? 3. How has this skill you helped you in life outside of soccer? The discussions were profound and it was rewarding to witness these young athletes recognize their growth in areas like teamwork, resilience, sportsmanship, leadership, confidence, time management, perseverance, and more. Their reflections not only highlighted their progress but also prepared them for future endeavours—be it job interviews, volunteer opportunities, or academic pursuits. I'm proud of how these reflections build their confidence and self-awareness, equipping them for success beyond the field. Here's to nurturing life skills through sports! 🏆 #YouthDevelopment #Teamwork #Leadership #Sportsmanship #LifeSkills

Are the results I’m expecting aligned with the habits I am following every day? This is a question asked in the college/pro-prep athlete development program I have and the athletes have been showing up for sure! This post isn’t about “me” it’s about THEM. They show up, learn to communicate and they create their path. I’m just there to guide them. So many programs feel the athlete has to be told what and when to do things. NFL has a curfew on their athletes when they travel and other professional programs act like the athletes aren’t adults and able to make good decisions. I believe when you are in college you are preparing to be a professional in your area of study and then you get a job and you must act accordingly to keep that job. This is what should be expected in ALL professional sports. The athletes should feel as though they have responsibilities and standards and the organizations that hire them should have standards of how that looks. I’ve seen possibly more professional behavior in this group of college athletes than I have in a long time in pro sports. I believe they are capable of living their dreams, creating impact and leaving a legacy when it’s their time to shine. I am so proud of them and I truly feel we can create a change in “professional” sports. Thank you to the athletes who are truly finding the confidence and professionalism in themselves to make big ripples on their teams and in their environments. Take Action Performance Athlete Development Program #athlete #proathlete #athletedevelopment #longsnapper #longsnapping #specialteams #specialteamsu #football #takeaction