ATHLETES & MENTAL HEALTH
ATHLETES AND MENTAL HEALTH
We are seeing an increase in publications around the mental health of athletes, so want to take a moment to address our view and policy. We believe whole-heartedly in helping to develop well-rounded individuals while respecting your family's dynamic and beliefs. Children, these days, have ample access to social media which impacts self esteem at a very early age. It creates an environment of negative comparison, and in some cases bullying, among peers or even adults. We highly recommend parents monitor their children's online access carefully. And we have a NO SCREEN policy at our swim meets.
Performance athletes must endure additional pressure and stress in the competitive environment. As coaches we work with our athletes to:
1. Focus on details, not times. Please support us in mirroring this at home. Yes, progress is measured by time drops, so it is difficult to avoid it all together, but it should be balanced with individual progress and understanding the details of race performance and strategy. These are conversations to be had between Coaches and Athletes. Parents only must support, congratulate and encourage. There will be times when athletes plateau, become injured/ill, age up etc., which may effect their goals for faster times and higher meet placement. But if that is NOT their main focus, then it is much easier to manage and keep a positive outlook moving forward.
2. Positive Talk: We insist in only positive talk among our athletes. Even in joking, criticism can take a toll on self esteem. Negative talk creates a negative atmosphere. Not only do we enforce this type of language between athletes, but we also teach positive self talk. Swimmers spend a lot of time with their head in the water, alone with their thoughts. Teaching and modeling positive self talk, goes a long way in helping swim athletes to manage the stress and pressure they may experience.
3. Team Bonding: We incorporate interactive team activities on a regular basis. This helps promote bonding and positive relationships, which cultivates friendships and support from team mates. We want your children to look back on their time as a Falcon with positive, happy memories and knowledge that they were always supported in their accomplishments.
4. Resources: We keep an eye out for athletes who may be struggling and have regular conversations to encourage them. However, just as if someone needed to see a specialist for a shoulder injury, they may need more help than a coach or parent can provide. If we, or you, feel this is the case, we have resources we can recommend.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this topic, please don't ever hesitate to reach out to us. We want the very best for you all.