Sideline Chatter

Mental Health Within College Athletics

College athletes deal with jam packed schedules that don’t allow for much down time. Being one myself, I know how hectic one day can be. 

Allotting time for your body to physically recover after a long day of practice seems obvious, but the comparative need for mental recovery often gets cast aside for other commitments. 

You hear people say about sports that, “It’s 10 percent physical and 90 percent mental.” 

And it’s true–once the uniform is on and the shoes are laced up, your chance of making it out the door to the field or the court goes way up. 

So if the physical part of being a college athlete comes with showing up and putting in the work, how does one improve their mental game?

The answer, I think, is to view mental health as a part of, not apart from, athlete health. The physical components will come with hard work only if the mental game is willing to work even harder. 

Like the physical side, mental heath means suiting up and putting in the time. Regarding “suiting up,” it means allowing time for yourself, valuing yourself, and approaching your life, not just your sport, with confidence. 

This work is just as important as the extra 100 push ups and 10 minutes of core. Bettering yout mental health can start small–just as your physical training once did. 

Maybe it starts with regularly setting aside time outside of practice and school to be wholeheartedly you. Plan a trip or go see a favorite band play live. Start a book or dive into a new hobby. Have fun.

You don’t really know where this mental activity may lead–and that’s part of the fun. Perhaps you’ll discover a new passion–something just as big as sports–and maybe your priorities will change. 

There’s nothing wrong with that. And you may find that you’re growing into a better person which will help you become a better athlete as well.

The way I see it, sports should never solely define a student athlete. The person who shines just as much off the court as he or she does on it matters more in the long-run than the game winning buzzer beater. 

It’s all about becoming the best person you can be. And that means using the student-athlete aspect of your identity to shape your holistic self. 

While the extra sprints after a workout or swings in the cage do pay off, the mentality of who you are as an athlete can affect performance just as much. 

So step away from the spotlight a few moments each day and remind yourself that you are more than a game or a play. 

Contact Lacey Yahnke at lyahnke@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.