Lend Your Voice
Your journey is part of a bigger story—one that can help shape the future of athlete development.
By sharing your experience or expertise, you’ll play a direct role in building solutions that not only support peak performance but also set athletes up for long-term success beyond competition.
Our conversations are designed to be natural and engaging, lasting about an hour. As a thank-you, you’ll receive a written version of your story—honoring your journey and the insights you’ve shared.
The Questions We’re Asking
Explore the key themes we’re uncovering through conversations with athletes, parents, coaches, and sports leaders. Expand each section to see the questions guiding our research and insights.
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You train relentlessly to reach peak performance—but have you been given the tools to prepare for what comes next? We want to hear from you. How do you balance competition, access resources like nutrition, recovery, and mental support, and think about your future beyond sport?
Key Questions We’re Asking:
How do you access and use resources like nutrition, recovery, and mental performance support to reach your peak?
What role do your coaches, parents, and teammates play in your development?
Do you feel supported by your organization in thinking beyond competition?
What do you wish existed to help you balance performance today while preparing for tomorrow?
What do you wish you had known earlier in your career?
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Stepping away from competition is more than just the end of a season—it’s the beginning of a new chapter that many athletes feel unprepared for. We want to hear from you. What was it like to transition out of sport, what challenges did you face, and how did you find stability, purpose, and success beyond competition?
Key Questions We’re Asking:
When did you know it was time to step away from your sport, and what was that moment like?
What challenges did you face in the transition, and how did it affect your routine, identity, and relationships?
Did you feel supported, and what resources (if any) helped you navigate this shift?
How did you find purpose beyond competition, and what skills from sport have shaped your life today?
What do you wish you had known earlier, and what advice would you give to athletes preparing for this transition?
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Supporting an athlete is both rewarding and challenging. Parents invest time, energy, and resources to help their child succeed in sport—but what happens beyond competition? We’re learning from parents about how they access resources for nutrition, mental performance, and recovery, how they think about their child’s future beyond athletics, and the highs and lows of guiding them through their athletic journey.
Key Questions We’re Asking:
What resources have you sought out to help your child reach peak performance, and where did you find them?
How do you think about your child’s future beyond sport? Is it something you’ve actively planned for, or does it feel distant?
What has been the most rewarding and most challenging part of supporting your child’s athletic career?
Were there moments when you felt unsure of how to help? What guidance would have made a difference?
If you could design a resource or program for parents of athletes, what would it include?
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Coaches play a critical role in athlete development, but that role varies—some focus solely on peak performance, while others see themselves as mentors shaping an athlete’s growth beyond sport. We’re learning from coaches about how they prepare athletes for competition, what resources they rely on, and how they view their role in supporting both performance and long-term success.
Key Questions We’re Asking:
What resources do you use to help athletes reach peak performance, and where do you find them?
How do you define your role in an athlete’s overall development?
Do you see preparing athletes for life beyond sport as part of your job? Why or why not?
If you could create a resource or program to better prepare athletes for life after sport, what would it include?
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Athlete success doesn’t happen in isolation—it’s shaped by the organizations, leaders, and systems that support them. We’re learning from sports leaders, athletic directors, and athlete development specialists about how they prepare athletes for peak performance and long-term success, what resources they provide to coaches and parents, and the evolving trends they see in athlete development.
Key Questions We’re Asking:
What resources and education do you provide to coaches and parents to help athletes reach peak performance?
Where do you find the best tools and research to support athlete development?
What do you wish coaches and parents understood about developing athletes for both performance and life beyond sport?
What trends are emerging in athlete development, and how are younger generations approaching sport differently?
If you could create a better support system for athletes, what would it look like?
Real experiences from athletes, parents, coaches, and sports leaders navigating the pursuit of peak performance and life beyond sports. Each story is a testament to the resilience, growth, and identity found on and off the field.
Add Your Voice
FAQ
Who is eligible to participate?
Current and former athletes, parents, coaches, sport leaders (athletic directors, club owners, etc), and anyone passionate about athlete development and wellness
How long will the conversation last?
Conversations last between 30 minutes and 1 hour and are designed to feel natural and comfortable
How will my story be shared?
Our goal is to highlight common experiences and inspire others by sharing selected stories publicly. However, if you prefer, you can choose to keep your story private, contributing only to our research. You can specify your preference before we start.
Do I need to be a good writer to share my story?
No! This is a relaxed, one-on-one conversation—no writing required. I’m here to listen and guide the discussion, so there’s no pressure to have everything perfectly organized.
What if I don’t know what to say or how to organize my thoughts?
Don’t worry! A few days before our conversation, you’ll receive a list of reflection questions to help you think through your experiences. These questions are just a guide—you’re welcome to share whatever feels most important to you.
I wasn't a collegiate or professional athlete. Can I still participate?
Absolutely! It doesn’t matter what level you competed at—if stepping away from a sport you loved was a pivotal moment in your life, your experience matters. Whether you played in high school, competed recreationally, or trained at an elite level, your story can help shape a better future for athletes navigating life beyond competition.
What if I’m still competing?
Even if you’re still competing, your insights matter! Sharing what resources you currently have, what’s missing, and how you think about life after sports can help shape better support systems for athletes at every stage.
This all feels so formal. Can we just have a short, casual conversation?
100% Send us a message on our contact page, and we’d be happy to connect more informally
Years of grit, resilience, and relentless effort led Kate Leachman to her dream of playing Division I soccer at Nebraska — balancing early mornings, grueling practices, and the demands of competing at the highest level.