As a new academic year begins, student athletes are navigating a landscape where mental health is prioritized, reflecting a growing recognition that emotional well-being is essential for both performance and overall health amidst the pressures of competition and academics.
“We talk about it a lot in volleyball, about how if we’re getting down on ourselves and put too much pressure on ourselves then we will play really bad. If we keep a good attitude on the court and have a ‘memory of a goldfish’ is what our coach says we just forget our past mistakes and lift each other up, and that helps us play really well,” said Jaidyn Sampier (11).
Discussing mental health openly as a team and finding ways to cope together can create a good team bond and foster a deeper connection amongst players.
“I know I have to have good grades in order to play so I’m constantly thinking about volleyball whether or not I’m on the court. So if i’m in a test I think I need to pass this test otherwise i won’t be able to play. If I have a missing assignment then I don’t get to play,” said Jastin Ware (12).
Having to constantly think that if you make one mistake in class could affect your whole sport is challenging for athletes. The idea that if you get one bad grade you can’t play a game can cause a lot of stress and anxiety when coming to school each day and even when you’re on the court.
“Mental health is a big part of volleyball. In volleyball if you make one mistake it feels like you’re letting your team down because you only play until 25 points. But you can really count how many points you feel like are your fault. So I think in the game it’s very important to be able to get over those mistakes. It’s a really mental heavy game and you can really put a lot of damper on yourself for being bad and I think during school it’s important to have good mental health because what you are in school reflects what your game is, so if you’re kind to others and you’re able to show yourself grace and you’re able to show others grace, I think it leads to being able to do the exact same things in your sport,” said Mia Hernandez (11).
