In sports, everything seems to point in one direction: up.

• Up the rankings.
• Up the ladder.
• Up the levels.

From the moment we step into coaching, we’re handed the blueprint:

More wins → Bigger job

Bigger job → More money

More money → More respect

But what if the blueprint is broken?

What if the way up… is actually down?

The Climb No One Questions

Coaching culture worships advancement. “Next level” is the holy grail - whether that’s going from JV to varsity, DIII to DI, or high school to the pros.

And don’t get me wrong: ambition isn’t the enemy. But unexamined ambition can be.

Because chasing the next rung without checking your purpose leads to:

• Burnout
• Shallow relationships
• Misaligned priorities
• A life that looks impressive but feels empty

Downward Mobility: A Countercultural Coaching Choice

Sometimes the best move isn’t promotion - it’s presence. Not more spotlight - but more significance. Not going bigger - but going deeper.

Downward mobility might look like:

• Leaving the college grind to coach your kid’s middle school team
• Stepping away from a leadership role to focus on relationships
• Saying “no” to prestige so you can say “yes” to purpose

These choices won’t trend on Twitter. But they might restore your love for the game - and your life.

The key is this: define success carefully.

Not by wins, roles, or levels.

But by what matters most.

Get started on CoachLync today!