Athletes strive toward learning from past mistakes and successes so that each event is better than past events. An early maturing sophmore in high school may appear to be getting worse by only staying the same. Coaches and fans as well as athletes keep looking toward constantly improved performance. There is a consistent pressure to imporve by learning more about strategy, increasing physical skills or improving mental attitude. No matter how skilled and well-trained an athlete has become, there is always a time limit to participation.
Graduation is a clear ending for high-school and college athletes.
Professionals recognize the average length of a career and realize few athletes perform past a certain age depending on the sport. This inevitable end of a career is stressful for many athletes who wonder what will fill the void in their lives when competitive sports are no longer part of their lifestyle. Many high-school athletes recognize the reality that they do not possess the size, strength, or skill to compete in college or professional ranks. Many college athletes realize a small percentage of their peers will continue their sport careers as professionals. Most athletes will suffer an injury that will keep them out of competition for at least a short time during their career.