31
Sports
October 2O21
MENTAL HEALTH IN STUDENT ATHLETES Students balance stress of reaching high expectations in school and athletics Article by David Steinberg Graphic by Jaidyn Holt Senior basketball player Javon Bennett gets who are dealing with stress. In order to help focused,” Smith said. “I encourage a lot of home from a hard day of practice feeling ex- the students, she mainly focuses on build- athletes, when they get home, to go shower, hausted. The only thing on his mind is getting ing a schedule, as it helps ensure that they are go do their thing, wake up a little bit, re-enas much sleep as he can before morning work- not procrastinating to the point where they get ergize a little bit, and then buckle down and outs the next day. Instead, he spends the rest overwhelmed with work late at night. do your work. But don’t put it off until 10 or of the night finishing his homework, studying “I am often approached by students who are 11 o’clock, because then you’re going to be up for his math quiz and completing his English trying to manage the stress in schoolwork and all night.” essay due the next day. athletics,” Smith said. “I typically work with In order to maintain focus and remain deThis situation is familiar to the many stu- them on some time management and getting termined in school, athletes need the most dent athletes on campus who often feel overthem to find some life sleep they can get. Bennett said that he only ts... whelmed by the stresses of school and athbalance, but gets five hours of sleep on a regular school n tu d e letics. Among those students is senior day, three hours less than the recommended s rini t y T weightlifting and track member amount for high schoolers. The lack of sleep y of e Hannah Yared. Yared said that affects his performance on the court and v waited to do summer work ur s she has a difficult time focusin the classroom. The feeling of restlessuntil the end of break a ing on athletics because of ness is not uncommon amongst high the work that she has to do school athletes. According to NFHS watch TV or when she gets home at the According to a survey conbrowse social media end of the day. ducted on 156 Trinity Prep athto procrastinate “A lot of times, I’ll have letes, only 5.1% get the recfeel they have a procrastination so much homework that ommended amount of sleep. of high school athletes problem experience some form of I’ll be thinking about it Smith said that sleep is a key anxiety disorder during practice,” Yared component in performance, said. “If I’m overly stressed and when a student isn’t fulof non-athlete with the workload, it’ll ally rested, their production students get 7 hrs ways be on my mind. Somecould decrease. of sleep or less of student athletes work ahead get 7 hrs of sleep over the times even during games. I know it “Anytime you’re not getor less weekend isn’t a good thing, but sometimes I can’t get ting enough sleep, that defithe work out of my head.” nitely affects your performance Student athletes on campus often feel the also helping them to recognize that it is in school and athletics,” Smith pressure of living up to the high expectations impossible to do everything.” said. “Sleep is critical, especially for set for them on the field and in the classroom. Even with the improvement of time man- students of this age group. I think that’s why The pressure and stress that build up lead to a agement, athletes can still fall behind on work. time management is so important; because much bigger issue in the world today: mental Bennett said that he sometimes lacks motiva- you have to be able to know your priorities.” health in athletics. tion to complete his assignments. He relies on All of the factors that tie into stress feed into Mental health issues are a rising trend in the his teachers, friends and parents to help him an increase in mental health cases amongst sports world today. Recent professional athlet- stay focused on school. student athletes. Yared said that mental health ic figures including women’s tennis star Naomi “When I get home from practice, I don’t re- in high school athletes is a topic that is very Osaka and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles ally feel like doing anything,” Bennett said. “A important, and that athletes should not let the have opened up about their recent struggles lot of times, I feel like I can put schoolwork to pressure involved in sports get to them. with living up to the high expectations set for the side, but my parents and teachers always “When it comes to mental health in high them in professional sports. The publicity of remind me to get my assignments done.”‘ school athletes, it is a topic that shouldn’t be what they are going through proved that menMany athletes on campus feel the same overlooked,” Yared said. “I can definitely feel tal health is an issue that can affect all people. struggle of a lack of motivation. Smith said the stress involved in balancing academics and Many students on campus need help dealing that the best way for athletes to remain focused athletics, but I believe that I am doing the best with the stress involved in school and sports. is to get into healthy routines. I can to get the grades I want and perform well Guidance Counselor Rylan Smith said that she “I think the best thing you can do is to come in my sports.” is approached frequently by student athletes up with a schedule that encourages you to stay
In
56.5%
74.5%
31.9%
70.8%
63.4%
63.1%
28.7%
