NARP lifestyle proves a challenge to former athletes
Once revered athletes, Tabetha Byl and Katie Cowling tackle the NARP ‘non-athletic regular person’ way of life
The Sports Reporter Collective
Monday, March 10, 2025
By McKenna Monogue | Aspiring Journalist
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – In competitive sports, few experiences are as transformative as going from being a star athlete to a “NARP” – a term for a “Non-Athletic Regular Person.” For Tabetha Byl and Katie Cowling, who were lifelong athletes, this shift has been nothing short of an adjustment as they navigate their college years without the structured routine of daily practices and competitions.
Tabetha Byl, once a standout in high school soccer, was used to having a busy schedule that revolved around games, practices, and traveling for tournaments. “Sports were everything for me,” she says. “I was always on the go, always surrounded by teammates, always training. Now that I’m in college, it’s strange to have all this free time. I didn’t realize how much of my identity was tied to being an athlete.”
Similarly, Katie Cowling, a former volleyball player, spent most of her childhood and teenage years in gyms and on courts. The constant flow of competition and camaraderie with her teammates became the backdrop of her life. “Being an athlete, it felt like I was always part of something bigger than myself. I miss that feeling of being on a team, working toward something together,” she admits.
For both women, the transition to college life meant stepping away from their sports and in some ways, stepping away from the recognition and attention that came with being a star athlete. “In high school, everyone knew me as the soccer girl,” Tabetha says. “Now, I’m just another face in a crowd. It’s humbling but also a little freeing in a weird way.”
This transition isn’t just about losing a routine; it’s about the mental and emotional shift from being an athlete to a NARP. “It’s not just the physical aspect of sports that you miss; it’s the mindset,” says Katie. “You get so used to pushing yourself, working hard every day. Now, it’s up to me to find new ways to stay motivated.”
Both Tabetha and Katie are adjusting to life as full-time students and occasional gym-goers rather than full-time athletes. They’re learning to find balance in a new routine, one that doesn’t revolve around the pressures and schedules of their former sports lives.
But being a NARP has its perks, too. “I have time to explore other interests, like joining clubs and focusing on my academics,” Tabetha shares. “It’s a shift, but I’m learning to embrace the change and see the positives.”
“I have time to explore other interests, like joining clubs and focusing on my academics,” … “It’s a shift, but I’m learning to embrace the change and see the positives.”
–Tabetha byl
Katie agrees. “The pressure is gone, and it’s nice to have the freedom to just do things at my own pace. I still work out, but it’s different. It’s for me, not because I have to perform.”
While both women may no longer be training for competitions or playing in front of packed crowds, they’re learning to redefine their identities. The transition from athlete to NARP may be challenging, but it also offers them the space to discover new passions and build their futures outside the world of sports.
As they adjust to their new college lives, Tabetha and Katie continue to find fulfillment and growth, reminding us that while sports may define one chapter of our lives, it’s never the end of the story.
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REPORTER’S BIO | McKenna Monogue is a junior majoring in Advertising and Public Relations in the School of Journalism and Strategic Media at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
McKenna Monogue
Note: Photo by Vadim Fomenok on Unsplash