Background context Rapid return to the playing field regardless of the sport involved is the goal of athletes, coaches, owners, and fans after any type of injury. Lumbar disk problems promote a sense of life-altering changes that will have to be made. Microendoscopic diskectomy can minimize these fears most of the time. Purpose To demonstrate our experience and that of others in utilizing microendoscopic lumbar decompression and diskectomy in athletes and others as a tool to minimize surgical trauma and time away from the desired activity. Study design Personal experience and literature review.