Athletes’ Soul hosted this huddle focused on career opportunities in sports-related professions, featuring four guest speakers who work in different areas supporting athletes: Dr. Kim Hollingdale, a mental performance consultant and therapist; Veronica Tearney, a strength and conditioning coach and nutrition educator at Syracuse University; Marty Mattox, a physical therapist with her own practice in San Francisco; and Conrad Francis, an international high-performance swimming coach in Seoul. Each speaker shared their typical workday routines, managing both athletic performances and administrative duties.
The discussion covered what gives them fulfillment in their roles, including helping athletes achieve breakthroughs and develop life skills, as well as major challenges such as working behind the scenes without public recognition. The panel concluded by offering advice to athletes considering careers in sports support roles, emphasizing the importance of gaining experience through volunteering, shadowing professionals, and building networks in their desired fields.
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Monthly Huddles by Athletes Soul are monthly virtual discussions hosted by professional coaches, mental health providers and experts in the field of wellness and athletic transition. safe, supportive spaces where athletes come together to explore the real-life challenges of athletic transition. Each month, we host expert-led conversations on topics like identity loss, burnout, mental health, resilience, and life beyond sport. Whether you’re still competing, recently retired, or years into your next chapter, our huddles offer valuable insights, community connection, and tools to help you navigate the journey.
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Athletes Soul is a non-profit organization founded and run by former athletes. Our mission is to support retiring athletes as they transition out of sports, raise awareness about the unique challenges of athletic retirement, and empower athletes to develop beyond sports. We support athletes from all sports and backgrounds and at no cost to the athletes. To find out more, visit us at: http://www.athletessoul.org.
