Press and media
Covering life after sport?
The Next Game, from The NOVA Foundation, keeps former athletes in sport after their last game: coaching it, officiating it, playing it and giving back. Reporters, producers and podcast hosts, everything you need is here.
About
The short version
The Next Game is The NOVA Foundation's national effort to keep former athletes in sport after their last game. Through the annual Next Game Summit, the NOVA Fellowship and volunteer crews in Chicago and Las Vegas, it connects athletes with coaching, officiating, volunteering and community sport. Learn more at thenovafoundation.org.
- Who we are
- The NOVA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 39-4346784), founded in 2025
- Public name
- The Next Game, from The NOVA Foundation
- Where
- Las Vegas, Chicago, South Florida, Los Angeles and New England
- What
- Volunteer coaching and officiating, adult rec and Masters play, community for former athletes, and a paid Athlete Fellowship
- Next big moment
- The 3rd annual Next Game Summit, Friday, May 7, 2027, at the United Center in Chicago
Interview topics
What we can talk about
Life after the last game
Why losing the team hits harder than losing the sport, and what actually helps athletes through the first year.
The coach and referee shortage
Why former college athletes are the most overlooked answer to the youth sports staffing gap.
The best mentors played 20 years ago
How older former athletes can mentor and coach alongside the ones who just finished.
Where athletes play after 22
Adult rec, Masters sport and pickup as the low-commitment way back into the game.
Volunteer roles people keep
Designing coaching and officiating roles that people stay in, starting with crews of teammates.
The Next Game Summit
A full day at the United Center for athletes figuring out what comes next.
Spokesperson
Alex Versen
Executive Director, The NOVA Foundation
Alex leads The Next Game, NOVA's work to keep former athletes in sport after their last game. He brings a decade of experience across tech, consulting and sport, teaches sport management, and grew up in a family of athletes and coaches.
Available for interviews, podcasts and panels.
Download high-resolution headshot →
Photos courtesy of The NOVA Foundation. Please credit "The NOVA Foundation."
Media contact
Talk to Alex
Requests go straight to Alex Versen, Executive Director: versen@thenovafoundation.org