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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 2023 the Alliance will keep the conversation around youth sports and mental health active throughout the year with #SportsMentalHealthMonday social media posts. Each post will feature content centered around a specific topic related to youth sports and mental health. You will hear insight and expertise from stakeholders in and around youth sports in Virginia.

#SportsMentalHealthMonday posts can be found weekly on the Hall of Fame’s Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn 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/

 

May - Mental Health Awareness Month

05-15-2023 - Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health Awareness Month – Addie Froehlich, Cox High School (Virginia Beach)

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and increased AWARENESS is exactly what we are striving for. No matter the level of sports, being willing to talk about and address mental health & wellness within your team, and organization is the first step to creating change. We are grateful youth athletes like Addie Froehlich from Cox High School in Virginia Beach are stepping up to be part of the culture change when it comes to how we view mental health in sports.

Full interview with Froehlich: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuXcJddI-Kk

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05-8-2023 - Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health Awareness Month – Addie Froehlich, Cox High School (Virginia Beach)

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the Alliance aims to decrease the stigma around the issue of mental health in sports, which will ultimately lead to positive sports experiences for athletes. We are grateful when athletes share their stories. Today we hear from Addie Froehlich a senior at Cox High School in Virginia Beach. Froehlich discusses how the pressure she was placing on herself to perform athletically was affecting her performance on and off the field. We encourage you to watch the full conversation with Addie Froehlich where she details her struggles and how she overcame them. She will headed to Villanova University in the fall to continue to her athletic and academic pursuits.

Full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuXcJddI-Kk

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05-1-2023 - Mental Health Literacy

Bench The Stigma – Virtual Forum

Kicking off Mental Health Awareness Month, we encourage people to go back to the beginning of our focus on mental health in sports. Following our March 2020 event, “Building Mental Wellness, Boosting Sports Performance”, the Hall of Fame & CHKD hosted multiple virtual forums to address this issue and offer support, education, and resources to all involved in youth sports. “A Pandemic Playbook”, “Bench The Stigma”, and “#WHoRU“, brought together former and current athletes, clinical professionals, coaches, and parents to discuss a wide range of topics regarding mental health in sports. These forums were the springboard to creating the Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance, and are available on the Hall of Fame’s website under the COMMUNITY tab. Today we go back to “Bench The Stigma”, and encourage people to learn more about and educate themselves on the issue of mental health in sports. While the stigma around the conversation continues to decrease, our preparedness to face the issue must continue to improve.

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April - Mental Health & Mental Performance

04-24-2023 - Misconceptions of Mental Performance

Kiersten Janjigian – Certified Mental Performance Coach

Our focus in April is Mental Health & Mental Performance. This week we look at myths associated with mental performance. Certified Mental Performance Coach (CPMC) Kiersten Janjigian outlines some misconceptions she has seen and heard in her line work.

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04-17-2023 - Tips to Improve Mental Performance

Kiersten Janjigian – Certified Mental Performance Coach

Our focus in April is Mental Health & Mental Performance. This week we look at how youth athletes can learn to develop mental performance techniques. Certified Mental Performance Coach (CPMC) Kiersten Janjigian outlines some tips for athletes that can ultimately lead to increased enjoyment in their sports participation.

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04-10-2023 - Building Mental Wellness, Boosting Sports Performance

Dr. Joel Brenner, Director of CHKD Sports Medicine

In March 2020, just prior to the pandemic, the Hall of Fame and CHKD hosted an in-person forum called “Building Mental Wellness, Boosting Sports Performance” (photos attached). Our panel at the event featured Director of CHKD Sports Medicine, Dr. Joel Brenner, Michael Cuddyer, former JMU Football star Eugene Holloman, CHKD Psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Spencer, and youth athlete Jada Waters. Today we go back to 2020, and highlight a post from Dr. Brenner (link below). In this post, Dr. Brenner examines the connection between Mental Health and Performance. When the two are working together, they can increase participation, and help create the positive sports experience we all strive for.

Full post:https://www.chkd.org/blog/building-mental-wellness,-boosting-sports-performance/?fbclid=IwAR2AHjGYEyg-gtWb7gTBdO4OMZJIhD34PAgD4xItIQ6Z1nBXE8S3H60gZ2k 

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04-03-2023 - Mental Health vs. Mental Performance

Michael Cuddyer – 2018 VSHF Inductee

We shift our attention for April to Mental Health vs. Mental Performance. Its important to understand the difference between the two, and how they can complement the overall development of athletes. 2x Major League Baseball All-Star and 2018 Virginia Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Michael Cuddyer, explains how he was able to maximize both during his career, and provides tips to improve both mental health and performance.

Full conversation with Michael: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTU_pvZwwxY

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March - Communication

03-27-2023 - Communication, Coach to Athlete

Michael Cuddyer – 2018 VSHF Inductee

 Our March focus for #SportsMentalHealthMonday is Communication. Today we talk to 2x Major League Baseball All-Star and 2018 Virginia Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Michael Cuddyer. Cuddyer explains how coaches need to utilize effective communication with their athletes to maintain a positive mental health atmosphere within the team construct.

Full conversation with Michael: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTU_pvZwwxY

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03-20-2023 - Communication, Peer to Peer

Madeline Rudd – ODU Volleyball

Our March focus for #SportsMentalHealthMonday is Communication.

Today we focus on the communication between teammates, and how support both on and off the playing surface can help support mental health & wellness. Teammates may not have all the answers, but recognizing when a teammate is struggling is an important first step. Thank you to Madeline Rudd from ODU Women’s Volleyball for her participation in #SportsMentalHealthMonday.

Full conversation with Madeline: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2oswuKRVew

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03-13-2023 - Communication, Parents to Athletes

John Cunningham – Hampton Roads Youth Foundation

Our March focus for #SportsMentalHealthMonday is Communication. Parents of student-athletes want what’s best for their kids, but effective communication is important to creating a positive sports experience.

Today we focus on the parent-athlete connection with John Cunningham from the Hampton Roads Youth Foundation, and how he has navigated the world of youth and intercollegiate athletics with his two sons. He explains how parents need to be cognizant of their approach when offering support and advice for their athletes.

Full conversation with John: https://youtu.be/4wDl6cHkTjE

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03-06-2023 - Communication, Athletic Trainers to Athletes

Norfolk Public Schools – Daily Mental Health Check-Ins

Our March focus for #SportsMentalHealthMonday is Communication. This month we will explore how the different relationships within sports can use communication effectively to create a positive atmosphere.

Today we would like to highlight the communication between Athletic Trainers and athletes. March is National Athletic Training Month, and our friends with Norfolk Public Schools have created a daily “mental health check-in” platform to further prioritize mental health & wellness for its student-athletes.

The program was implemented district wide back in December, and is currently available to all active spring sports participants, 600 student-athletes.

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February - Colleges & Universities

02-27-2023 - Colleges & Universities, What questions should student-athletes ask?

Madeline Rudd – Old Dominion University Women’s Volleyball

Our February focus for #SportsMentalHealthMonday is how colleges & universities are approaching the issue of mental health for student-athletes. This week we look at it from the student-athlete perspective, and what questions should be asked when choosing the right college program. Thank you to Madeline Rudd from ODU Women’s Volleyball for her perspective and insight on this issue.

Full conversation with Madeline Rudd: https://youtu.be/H2oswuKRVew

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02-20-2023 - Colleges & Universities, What can youth organizations do?

Brandy Gresham – Norfolk State University Athletics

“Forward is Forward”
Our February focus for #SportsMentalHealthMonday is how colleges & universities are approaching the issue of mental health for student-athletes, however youth sports stakeholders need to get engaged prior to the athletes stepping foot on a college campus. Brandy Gresham from Norfolk State Athletics says progress can come in many forms to help ensure a positive atmosphere for athletes at all levels of sports.
Full conversation with Gresham: https://youtu.be/GeJdGDqcfA4
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02-13-2023 - Colleges & Universities, Resources Committed

Brandy Gresham – Norfolk State University Athletics

Our focus for the month of February colleges & universities, and how they are approaching mental health & wellness for student-athletes.
A 2021 NCAA study found 30% of surveyed athletes feeling extremely overwhelmed, with nearly 25% feeling mentally exhausted (Lindberg, 2021). Colleges and Universities across Virginia are actively increasing resources and personnel to provide more support for student-athletes.
Brandy Gresham, Director of Student-Athlete Well-Being for Norfolk State Athletics discusses just one of the many programs being implemented to support student-athletes on campus at Norfolk State University
Full conversation with Gresham: https://youtu.be/GeJdGDqcfA4
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02-06-2023 - Colleges & Universities, First-Year Athletes

Dr. Sonja Lund – Old Dominion University Athletics

Kicking off February we shift our focus to colleges and universities, and how they are approaching mental health & wellness for student-athletes.
The transition from high school to college is challenging for any number of reasons, but our institutions are now allocating resources to help make that transition easier. In recent years the number of student-athlete specific mental health professionals has increased exponentially within collegiate athletics, including at Old Dominion University. Dr. Sonja Lund, Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Mental Health & Well-being from Old Dominion University Athletics details what she sees as one of the main challenges student-athletes face in the transition from high school to college.
Full conversation with Dr. Lund: https://youtu.be/7fRg6RwNZF0
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January - Emotional Intelligence

01-30-2023 - Emotional Intelligence, Social Skills

Dr. Andrea Arcona – Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters

Finishing the month of January and our focus on Emotional Intelligence, we look at Social Skills, with more from our conversation with Chris Panayiotou from Virginia Rush Soccer Club. Social Skills is one of the 5 principles of Emotional Intelligence, and developing strong social skills allows coaches and athletes to build meaningful relationships and develop a stronger understanding of themselves and others.
Full conversation with Chris: https://youtu.be/9gLgxmlGtsE
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01-23-2023 - Emotional Intelligence, Student-Athlete Tips

Dr. Andrea Arcona – Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters

Continuing our January focus on Emotional Intelligence, we have more from CHKD’s, Dr. Andrea Arcona. Dr. Arcona explains how coaches and athletes can work together to improve a young athlete’s approach to emotional intelligence, and in-turn improve their overall performance and contribution to the team.
Full conversation with Dr. Arcona: https://youtu.be/IGkt1X_Ha3E
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01-16-2023 - Emotional Intelligence & Mental Toughness

Dr. Andrea Arcona – Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters

Continuing our January focus on Emotional Intelligence, we discuss how these principles relate to the commonly used term “mental toughness”. It’s a phrase used throughout sports, but how do we differentiate between mental toughness and emotional intelligence? Dr. Andrea Arcona from The Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, explains how both principles can be used to improve overall performance for youth and student athletes.
Full conversation with Dr. Arcona: https://youtu.be/IGkt1X_Ha3E
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01-09-2023 - Empathy

Chris Panayiotou – VA Rush Soccer Club

We continue our January focus on Emotional Intelligence, with a look at Empathy. Empathy is one of the 5 principles of Emotional Intelligence, along with Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, Motivation, and Social Skills. Chris Panayiotou from Virginia Rush Soccer Club details how empathy helps coaches develop stronger relationships with their players.
Full conversation with Chris Panayiotou: https://youtu.be/9gLgxmlGtsE
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01-02-2023 - Relationship Building

Chris Panayiotou – VA Rush Soccer Club

Kicking off January, we focus on Emotional Intelligence, and how coaches can use the 5 principles of Emotional Intelligence to create a better atmosphere for their athletes. The 5 principles are Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, Motivation, Empathy, and Social Skills. Chris Panayiotou from Virginia Rush Soccer Club, describes how coaching with Emotional Intelligence builds stronger relationships within the team.
Full conversation with Chris Panayiotou: https://youtu.be/9gLgxmlGtsE
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