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SNHU Athletic Department Focuses On Mental Health
Christopher Kelly Staff Writer
The SNHU athletics department has turned its attention towards the mental health of athletes with the current situation of SNHU being online as well as sports not being played. With teams unable to practice, play, or workout together on campus, the mental health of student-athletes can deteriorate. “As a team, we’re used to training every single day and games. We haven’t had that. We haven’t seen each other in person since early March so that’s a long time away after seeing each other for so many hours over the course of the year,” said Joshua Taylor, the men’s soccer coach.
Being away from people they once spent every day with can take a toll on the mental health of the people involved. Julie Munson, the coach for the women’s field hockey team, has further elaborated on the focus of mental health with members of the team. They are working with Hope Happens Here and The Hidden Opponent, an advocacy group for student-athlete mental health. Along with routinely asking mental health questions, Munson is providing resources for students and placing a priority on controlables. Controlables are the things that one can control such as diet, exercise, attitude, managing one’s schedule and
the ability to step away from everything. “We talked about it with our team as creating a sort of mental health game plan… One day in the middle of the pandemic I sat down and made a mental health game plan of alright, if I’m ever sad, this is what I’m going to do or if I’m having a hard day, these are the things I’m going to think about. I think if everyone can take a moment and figure that out, what works for them, it will be really healthy and helpful in the future.” Munson continues, “At first it’s hard to think about the things you can control then once you get going it’s like, wait a minute there’s way more that I can control, and I just
SNHU Baseball Field. (image source: SNHU Athletics) need to keep focusing on that.” Placing a priority on controlables, making the most out of the situation and focusing on the positives that exist
is a great way to improve the mental health of student-athletes and countless others in the SNHU community. Although the focus for some teams is
mental fitness, there are four-week training packets being released by the Athletic Department for those who wish to maintain their physical fitness.
Steven Covey Staff Writer
making the most of their time away from SNHU campus. “I know at least once a week some of the players are getting together and holding players’ practices. Some of them are hitting the gym as hard as they can, while others are a part of a men’s league and are able to practice with that team a couple times a week,” said Cole Stewart (‘21). For Stewart and a few other players in Georgia, they get their ice time every Thursday playing against one another in their men’s league. For some players, like Dominic DiMambro (‘22), off-ice training is more accessible. “My local ice rink just opened in Michigan for drop ins, which is free skate for the public. But to hold a practice in the rink is around $250, which you’d need to split to make it affordable. So
I’ve been doing a lot of running, biking, going to the gym, and lifting weights. I’m trying to get involved in anything I can have access to around my house and town,” said DiMambro. Due to the inability to practice in person as a team, one major problem the men face is their lack of communication on the ice. “During my freshman year, you could definitely hear and know where people were. You had the confidence of your buddy being right next to you, but being apart for a long period of time might have an effect on that,” said DiMambro when asked about what the team needs to work on. As the team waits to hear what the NE10 decides to do in January, they’re all looking forward to getting back together and practicing as a team.
SNHU Hockey Skates Into 2021 Season At Home
Penmen Defense Blocking Shot. (image source: Jim Stankiewicz)
SNHU’s Men’s Ice Hockey team is unsure about their winter season due to the Northeast-10 (NE10) suspending play through December. With the campus being closed and students studying remotely, this leaves the Men’s Ice Hockey team to fend for themselves as they try to prepare for a future season. With no announcements of future gameplay this year, the men’s team still finds ways to train. A handful of players are scattered across the United States and internationally; most of them are trying to stay active by following the off-ice training workout programs given by Head Coach Sean Walsh. Whether it’s weight training in the gym or squeezing in ice time at their local ice rinks, the team is
