How Do You Overcome Setbacks in Sports and Find Purpose Beyond the Game?

That feeling of loss, of being stuck in limbo, is something everyone experiences at some point in life. But for athletes, the impact can cut even deeper. When the dream you have trained for since childhood gets shaken, it is not just your plans that take a hit. It is your very sense of identity.

So how do we keep moving when the path we thought was set suddenly shifts?

What Does It Really Mean to Overcome Setbacks in Sports?

Setbacks come in all forms: injuries, reduced playing time, missed opportunities, or the painful moment when professional doors close. Kayla Byrne knows this story firsthand.

“She told me on the podcast, “It was like floating… I had graduated, basketball wasn’t panning out, and I didn’t know what was next.”

That word, floating, perfectly captures the uncertainty many athletes face. You have stepped out of one arena, but the next has not revealed itself yet. And in that space, doubt creeps in.

Have you ever felt that same sense of floating? If so, keep reading. This part is for you.

How Do You Find Purpose Beyond the Game?

What struck me about Kayla’s story is not the frustration of what she lost, but the clarity she gained. When the chance to play overseas did not materialize, she leaned into the relationships she had built and reached back out to her alma mater.

That step led her into athletic administration, where she discovered a new definition of success: helping others grow.

As Kayla put it, “You’re more than just the player. Basketball gave me so much, but it’s the relationships and who I am as a person that carried me to where I am today.”

That is a lesson every athlete, and honestly anyone facing career change, can carry. Your skills and dedication do not disappear when one chapter closes. They evolve.

Does this make you think about what your own purpose could look like off the field? That reflection might be your next step forward.

What Can You Do When You Are Facing Setbacks?

Watching Kayla navigate this challenge taught me something important about resilience. It is not about pretending everything is fine when it clearly is not. It is about staying open to what comes next, even when you cannot see it yet.

Here is how Kayla approached her floating period, and what we can all take from it:

1. She stayed ready, even when opportunities stalled.

Kayla kept training and kept showing up, even when overseas contracts fell through. She did not let disappointment become an excuse to quit preparing. When her alma mater reached back out, she was ready to step into something new.

Are you still showing up for yourself, even when the outcome feels uncertain?

2. She redefined what success looked like.

Instead of measuring success only by minutes on the court or contract offers, Kayla asked herself a different question: How can I still make an impact? That shift opened up possibilities she had never considered before.

What scoreboard are you looking at right now, and is it really the one that matters most?

3. She leaned on her network.

The relationships Kayla built during her playing days became the bridge to her next chapter. She was not afraid to reach out and let people know she was looking for her next move. Sometimes the best opportunities come from people who already know your character.

Who in your circle could you lean on today, even if just for a conversation?

How Will You Respond to Your Setback?

The truth is, setbacks in sports are not signs that you have failed. They are invitations to grow in a new direction. For Kayla, that meant trading the jersey for a role that allows her to shape the lives of student athletes. For you, it might mean stepping into a career you have never considered before.

If you are navigating your own transition, I would encourage you to listen to my full conversation with Kayla on the 2ndwind Podcast.

Her story is proof that purpose does not end when the game does. Sometimes, that is exactly when it begins.