How Are the Heads in The Game?

Photo personnel: Isa Montes Source: Diego Acevedo

Every sports movie has a “get your head in the game” moment–often after the star player has had a fight with their girlfriend, dad or friend. The player then tries to play through the uncertainty but cannot play well until they see them cheering in the stands. A big smile graces their face and they go on to win the big game, becoming the hero. 

In reality, things are not so simple. The Raiders’ Chandler Jones saga over the past month is certainly emblematic of that. Jones posted on social media that he was taken to a hospital and later a behavioral health facility against his will. This occurred after multiple videos were posted to social media where he rambled incoherently about a variety of topics–leading to the Raiders releasing him for “conduct detrimental to the team.” 

Jones’ story is an example of how mental health is important, for athletes at both the professional and collegiate level. Santa Clara athletes–just like those in professional leagues–have to circumnavigate their own roadblocks. 

“I think the most amount of pressure that affects your mental health is balancing being a student and an athlete and the pressure of being somewhat successful in both,” said Minnie Peterman, a junior public health major and member of Santa Clara’s cross country team. 

Peterman detailed her long schedule that spanned from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and involved working out three times a day, class, homework, being a CF and maintaining a social life.

Tyler Webster, the Associate Athletic Director of counseling & sport psychology at Santa Clara, expressed a similar sentiment on the pressures that student athletes face. Webster described it as having “two full time jobs” and figuring out how to balance the two all the time. 

Webster was hired in 2020 and was the first dedicated psychologist for athletics here at Santa Clara. She estimated that she works with roughly 40% of the student athletes in individual counseling and interacts with the rest through team counseling. 

“We utilize her in a way of discussing and deciding procedures and our team goals,” Peterman said. “I love how it focuses less on our times or our success as a team and more on our successes as teammates and as a group together and how we respect each other.” 

Peterman has attended individual counseling with Webster beginning her freshman year.She expressed excitement about the expansion of the sports psychology program with the addition of Dr. Riley Gee since it had been hard for her to get an appointment in a timely manner in the past because of Webster’s busy schedule. 

“When I'm not doing well, either in my personal life or just having a lot going on, it really decreases my sport performance,” Peterman said. She said meeting with Webster and making time for life outside of athletics are the main ways she re-balances her life and takes care of her mental health. 

For Webster, Peterman has the formula down on how to manage the stresses of being an athlete. 

“Rather than thinking about it in terms of mental health affecting sports, we think of it more in terms of, like, how are we coping and do we need more resources?” said Webster. “Do you need to change your approach to things?” 

Individual meetings with Webster are one of the main resources students are encouraged to use to determine how they are coping and to seek more resources. Peterman, now as a junior, has realized the impact of these resources and hopes freshmen find the balance of being a student and an athlete. 

“I think that's made a huge impact on my mental health. When I realized I wasn't just an athlete, I was more than that.” said Peterman.