Athletes are burdened with intense pressure and must endure unrealistic expectations placed by their coaches, teammates, parents, and themselves. This pressure to perform has a substantial influence on a players mental health that is often overlooked or ignored.
Student-athletes face unique challenges from balancing academics, sports, work, and other extracurriculars, which can be very overwhelming especially during an emotionally and mentally vulnerable time of their lives.
“There was so much pressure on and off the field during Junior year. I would stay up late to do assignments that I procrastinated and struggled to stay on top of things. Important games engrossed my mind; sometimes I caught myself caring more about my sport than school,” said Sierra Chen (12).
Athletes from all levels face internal and external expectations and fear failure. The expectations to excel and the unhealthy perfectionist tendencies they place on themselves can have a profound and serious toll on their mental health.
“I get really stressed during games, especially during warmups. During the first round of CIF, I had to be pulled out in the middle of the quarter because the pressure was affecting my playing,” said Lacy Duckwitz (11).
Athletes tend to quit during their highschool years due to the constant pressure to perform which can lead to burnout, lack of passion for the game, self-doubt, and even depression.
Failure is an inevitable aspect of sports, but athletes feel as if it is unacceptable. One bad performance during a game or practice can consume them in negative thoughts causing them to doubt themselves and their abilities.
“I am very pessimistic before games. Last season during CIF, I felt as if there was so much riding on my performance and how well I executed. I go into a game thinking I will score, but when I don’t contribute to the offense as well as I thought, it can be hard on me mentally,” said Chen.
Many internalize their mistakes and feel as if they failed as a person. However, this mentality can cause them to play even worse, creating an endless cycle of stress and disappointment.
“My first game freshman year was really stressful, but the other goalie comforted me and told me how amazing it was to play. When she quit, I felt lost without her support. Now that she’s graduated, she’s given me the strength to be on my own. There is some comparative pressure because I felt the need to live up to her and was holding myself to an unrealistic standard,” said Duckwitz.
Parents have a major influence on their children’s sports performance as the expectations they may put on their children can feel suffocating. Athletes feel a sense of duty to perform great in order to earn a college scholarship, become the star player, or living up to family achievements in order to “repay” them for the time, money, and effort their parents poured into sports.
“There is a lot of pressure to make others proud and the idea to do it for them. It keeps me going, but sometimes it can feel overwhelming,” said Duckwitz.
Athletes greatly value their coaches’ opinions. Many coaches do not realize that their harsh criticisms or opinions can contribute to the significant amount of stress that athletes endure.
“I used to conceal my emotion thinking no one else would relate. When I opened up, I realized others felt the same and it opened my eyes. Every athlete should feel comfortable communicating with their coaches or even teammates.” said Duckwitz.
The toxicity in sports culture has instilled a perception of seeking help as a weakness or seen as being uncommitted. Athletes then fear that asking for help may cause them to lose playing time because coaches may believe that they are not fit to play.
“I handle pressure by putting extra work outside of practice since team practices can only help to a certain extent. It gives me confidence to know that I am able to execute these skills efficiently during games,” said Chen.
Many athletes are not aware of coping strategies or mechanisms used to help with stress, so many may turn to suppressing their emotions, isolating themselves, or even using substances.
The conversations surrounding mental health in sports are beginning to change as more athletes begin to speak about their personal experiences. As the awareness of mental health grows, there are organizations and athletes advocating for change and providing approaches to help manage stress and pressure.
“I think teams should have more one-on-one conversations and coaches should be vulnerable themselves to encourage players to do the same. It is good to release your emotions in a healthy way; through crying, venting, or practicing,” said Chen.
Morgan’s Message is an organization that wants to share Morgan’s story with communities in hopes of ending the negative stigma surrounding student-athletes mental health and to normalize conversations to encourage and support those who are struggling.
“Don’t think your teammates will love you any less for not playing the best or being vulnerable. You don’t always have to be strong and keep your frustration inside, they are there for you to lean on,” said Duckwitz.
Athletes should not feel that their self worth is defined solely by their sports performance. Schools, coaches, and parents should prioritize mental health by promoting open conservations, providing resources, and allowing athletes to rest both physically and mentally. As awareness of mental health in sports begins to improve, the success of sports should never cost the well-being of any athlete.
Resources if you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, specifically related to sports:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org or visit here.
Athlete EDGE® at EDCare: Call (303) 771-0861 or visit here.
SAMHSA: Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit here.
Athletes for Hope: Visit their website here.
Let’s Empower, Advocate, and Do Inc. (L.E.A.D): Visit their website here.
