ALL Stars final session dives into life after sports

On Sunday, five panelists and a moderator came together to speak to the ALL Stars. In addition to Bacile, there was University of Richmond Deputy Director of Athletics for Policy and Sports Management LaRee Sugg, McGuireWoods, LLP. second-year attorney Rambert Tyree, UVa fourth-year student Luke Lamberson and former Virginia State women’s basketball team member Kiana Walker. 

The moderator was Jerrine Lee, the vice president of sales with Richmond Region Tourism. 

The session was split into three segments and the panel was made up of former and current athletes.  

The panel started by talking how they manage their time now and how that works with maintaining an active lifestyle. Tyree talked about how important it is to be intentional with an active lifestyle and how necessary it is to take steps to plan out a day and set aside that time. 

“Life makes you active,” Sugg said during the session. She added to be thoughtful about what’s on your plate. 

The panelists also discussed finding an identity outside of sports. Bacile said during the panel that it’s “such a big change” and Walker added to take advantage of the new change by adding hobbies, slowing down and finding what makes you happy.

“Suddenly it’s gone and ‘who am I?” Bacile said. “What am I working for?”

Lamberson added that while it may be difficult to adjust to life post sports, the ALL Stars should find something that makes them excited to wake up everday. For him, a fourth-year student at UVa, that was an organization called Camp Kesem, which raises money to help put on a free camp for children with cancer. Lamberson is on the club running team at UVa.

The panelists also talked to the participants on how to market themselves and how to stay involved with the community outside work and sports. They advised the ALL-Stars to watch what they’re posting on social media and the difference volunteer work can make. 

Before a break in the panel, they discussed gender diversity in both sports and the real world. Sugg used an example of water polo and how the team has both male and female participants playing together. Lastly, there was a discussion on the next big things on the horizon in active living. 

The ALL Stars worked within their crews after that, reading an article about athletes following the conclusion of sports and how they felt. The crews each brought different perspectives about what stood out from the article and how the lessons through ALL Stars can help them.

In the last 30 minutes, the participants asked the panelists questions themselves. There, the panelists helped the ALL Stars by giving them advice, how to continue to be leaders, the importance of all active living and how to avoid burn out. 

“Trust the process, enjoy what you’re doing,” Bacile said.

This was the final session for the ALL Stars this year. Next up for the group is their capstone projects and then their graduation. 

“My biggest takeaway would be to continue to pour in to our kids and our community,” Bacile said. “They’re all willing and they’re all eager. And so the more you’re able to help them, hopefully that encourages them.”