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Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance

In 2020, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters came together to create a platform to focus on mental wellness for youth athletes. From a shared vision, the Youth Sports: Coaching Positive Mental Health forum series was developed in partnership with Michael Cuddyer, former MLB All-Star, and Betsy Cutler, M.Ed., of Cutler Wellness Programs, LLC. The goal of the forum series was to bring awareness to the mental health crisis in youth sports and to provide resources to youth sports stakeholders, coaches, parents, and athletes. Over the course of 14 months, three programs were presented, A Pandemic Playbook, Bench the Stigma, and #WhoRU.

Following the success of these programs the Hall, CHKD, and Cutler Wellness Programs spearheaded the formation of the Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance. The Alliance will bring together youth sports stakeholders throughout the community to promote positive mental health and wellness in sports, and to work toward the following objectives:
Alliance Objectives:

  • Identify mental health trends and concerns in youth sports.
  • Provide expertise and ideas for mental health and wellness programs for coaches, parents, and athletes.
  • Share mental health educational resources.
  • Promote, market, and advocate for youth sports mental health and wellness programs

In 2024 the Alliance will continue the conversation around youth sports and mental health throughout the year with Sports & Mental Health conversations, #SportsMentalHealthMonday social media posts, and further events and workshops  aimed at providing support to youth athletes and their families, coaches, officials, and additional stakeholders. Through all of these platforms you will hear insight and expertise from stakeholders in and around youth sports in Virginia.

#SportsMentalHealthMonday and the Sports & Mental Health conversations can be found on the Hall of Fame’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube pages. Join us as we help to create a positive and healthy atmosphere throughout youth sports in Virginia.

Media Coverage – WAVY TV

https://www.wavy.com/video/changing-the-game-tackling-mental-health-in-youth-sports/8492721/

March - Sports & Mental Health Conversation - Michael Kennedy, Football Official

February 2024 - Sports & Mental Health Conversation

Michael Kennedy – Football Official, American Athletic Conference, United Football League, and Director of Training for the Southeastern Football Officials

The Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance hosted a Sports & Mental Health Conversation with Michael Kennedy, an on-field football official for the American Athletic Conference in NCAA Division-I, and the United Football League for professional football. Kennedy is also the Director of Training for the Southeastern Football Officials (SEFOA) which services all southside Hampton Roads high school and middle school football teams. The conversation was hosted by Alliance co-chair, and Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Executive Director, Will Driscoll. The conversation focused on the role of officials in the sports ecosystem, and how mental health & wellness plays a vital role in their well-being on and off the field.

March - Sports Mental Health Monday

#SportsMentalHealthMonday - 3-11-2024, Ryley van der Velde

Ryley van der Velde – Virginia Wesleyan University, Field Hockey Head Coach

#SportsMentalHealthMonday with the Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance.
More from our recent conversation with Virginia Wesleyan Athletics head field hockey coach, Ryley van der Velde. Breaking down the stigma associated with mental health in sports requires being willing to talk about it, but also listening. Here she describes where she has seen positive change.
Full conversation with van der Velde: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eMugIXMluA&t=303s
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February - Sports Mental Health Monday

#SportsMentalHealthMonday - 2-26-2024, Ryley van der Velde

Ryley van der Velde – Virginia Wesleyan University, Field Hockey Head Coach

#SportsMentalHealthMonday with the Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance. In our most recent Sports & Mental Health conversation, we caught up with Ryley van der Velde, Head Field Hockey Coach for Virginia Wesleyan Athletics. Here she discusses the “invisible backpack” athletes carry, and how communication can help ease the burden of that backpack.
Full conversation with van der Velde: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eMugIXMluA&t=300s
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#SportsMentalHealthMonday - 2-19-2024, Morgan's Message

Brooke Frishman – ODU Women’s Lacrosse, Morgan’s Message

#SportsMentalHealthMonday with the Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance. Recently we hosted a sports & mental health conversation with four student-athletes from Old Dominion University. Among the topics discussed was their involvement with ODU’s Chapter of Morgan’s Message. The aim is to increase the conversation around mental health for student-athletes, and the broader campus. Through monthly meetings and events, they hope to decrease the stigma associated with mental health & wellness.
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February - Sports & Mental Health Conversation - Ryley van der Velde, Virginia Wesleyan University Athletics

February 2024 - Sports & Mental Health Conversation

Ryley van der Velde – Head Coach, Virginia Wesleyan University Field Hockey

The Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance hosted a Sports & Mental Health Conversation with Ryley Van Der Velde, Head Field Hockey Coach for Virginia Wesleyan University Field Hockey. The conversation was hosted by Alliance co-chair, and Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Executive Director, Will Driscoll. Among the topics discussed were the role of coaches in creating positive mental health atmosphere, how Van Der Velde uses here educational background in Mental Health Counseling to support her staff and athletes, how coaches can maintain their own mental health when dealing with the pressure to perform.

January - Sports & Mental Health Conversation - ODU Athletics

January 2024 - Sports & Mental health Conversation

Old Dominion University Student-Athletes.

The Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance hosted a Sports & Mental Health Conversation with 4 student-athletes from ODU Athletics. The conversation was hosted by Alliance co-chair, and Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Executive Director, Will Driscoll. Joining Driscoll were: Josi John and Shannon Quaile from ODU Field Hockey, and Brooke Frishman and Emma Rowland from ODU Women’s Lacrosse. The conversation touched on a number of topics including the Morgan’s Message initiative on campus at ODU, how student-athletes are taking control of their mental health & wellness, and the importance creating a positive atmosphere for not only themselves but the next generation of student-athletes.
Full interview is available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6zguD0rxi4
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December - Mental Health in Sports

12-18-2023 - Timing

Brandy Gresham, Norfolk State University Athletics

As we round out 2023, we are looking back at many of our sports and mental health conversations that contributed to our #SportsMentalHealthMonday campaign. From our conversation with Brandy Gresham from Norfolk State Athletics, Gresham explains why now more than ever sports organizations and stakeholders should be putting the focus on mental health.
Full conversation with Gresham: https://youtu.be/GeJdGDqcfA4?feature=shared
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12-11-2023 - Future Progress

Duncan MacLeod

As we round out 2023, we are looking back at many of our sports and mental health conversations that contributed to our #SportsMentalHealthMonday campaign. From our conversation with Duncan MacLeod we discussed how stakeholders can continue to progress our approach to mental health in youth sports.
Full conversation with MacLeod: https://youtu.be/RChFsAkcAGs?feature=shared
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12-4-2023 - Pressure on Athletes

Dr. Joel Brenner – CHKD Sports Medicine

As we round out 2023, we are looking back at many of our sports and mental health conversations that contributed to our #SportsMentalHealthMonday campaign. From our conversation with Dr. Joel B., Dr. Brenner discusses how the pressure placed on youth athletes continues to grow, and stakeholders must be aware of this pressure to continue providing a positive atmosphere in sports.
Full conversation with Dr. Brenner: https://youtu.be/iQd7qQJeFUs?feature=shared
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Past #SportsMentalHealthMonday Posts (links)

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