Every coach knows the feeling. You put in the work all season long. You strategize, sweat, sacrifice, and finally — the big win comes. The locker room is buzzing, players are hugging, the crowd is electric. For a moment, you’re on top of the world.

But then… it fades. The celebration ends. The trophy gathers dust. And before long, the same question comes rushing back: “What’s next?”

That’s the trap of the hedonic treadmill — the psychological reality that no matter how big the achievement, humans quickly return to their baseline level of satisfaction. Wins feel amazing in the moment, but the high doesn’t last. The treadmill keeps moving.

The Treadmill in Action

You’ve seen it:

• The Athlete who breaks a personal record, but already feels pressure to go faster, jump higher, or score more the next time out.
• The Coach who captures a championship, but can’t even enjoy it before people are asking if they can repeat.
• The Program that achieves a milestone season, but boosters, fans, and alumni are already shifting the bar higher.

In sports, success often feels less like arriving at a destination and more like running in place. No matter how much ground you cover, the horizon doesn’t seem any closer.

Why It Matters for Coaches

If left unchecked, the hedonic treadmill robs both coaches and athletes of joy.

Burnout creeps in when effort feels endless and rewards feel short-lived.

Discontent grows when athletes believe nothing they do is ever “enough.”

Frustration surfaces when teams achieve great things, only to feel empty inside.

As coaches, our role isn’t just to push for the next win. It’s to guide players in understanding that while achievement matters, it isn’t everything.

Anchoring Beyond the Scoreboard

So how do we help our teams - and ourselves - step off the treadmill?

1. Celebrate growth, not just results. Wins are fleeting, but growth compounds. A player improving her leadership, a team communicating better on defense, an athlete learning resilience after a tough loss — these are victories that last.

2. Elevate relationships. Teammates may forget the exact score of a game, but they’ll never forget the bonds built in the locker room, the bus rides, or the coach who believed in them.

3. Coach identity, not just outcomes. Remind athletes that their worth isn’t tied to the scoreboard. They’re more than stats. They’re leaders, learners, teammates, and people whose character extends far beyond the gym or field.

4. Redefine success in broader terms. Success is not only the championship trophy. It’s preparing athletes for life, shaping them into leaders, and influencing who they’ll become long after they stop wearing the uniform.

A Better Legacy

Here’s the truth: The wins will fade. The banners will eventually come down. The stat sheets will yellow with age.

But the influence you have - the words spoken in practice, the belief you instilled in a kid who doubted herself, the standard you modeled day after day - those ripple forward for decades.

That’s why sports are powerful. Not because of the carrot of competition, but because of the opportunity they provide for influence.

The End Game

The hedonic treadmill reminds us that one win is never enough. The high fades fast. But if we step off the treadmill and anchor in growth, purpose, and relationships, the impact can be lasting.

👉 Don’t just coach for the next scoreboard. Coach for the next chapter.

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