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Aspiring Sport Psychology Professional Attendance to my first AASP conference as an aspiring professional in the field. On March 10th and 11th, I attended the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) West Regional Conference hosted by California Baptist University (CBU) in Riverside, CA. This was my first attendance to an AASP conference since obtaining my master's degree and marketing myself as an early professional. I was eager to be amongst established professionals in the field and have the opportunity to network with other individuals early in their careers. On the first day, I arrived on campus at 8:30AM for the meet and greet portion, with presentations beginning at 9AM. Once given a quick introduction of the emcee, it was determined that the attendees consisted of current sport and performance psychology master's students at CBU, early professionals training to be certified, current professors with their graduate students conducting research to present, and current established professionals. Despite all of us being in various stages of development, we all were there to learn from one another and present new ideas to grow the field. Prior to the lunch break, there was a round table discussion with all attendees included and were broken up into small groups of 6-8 people. The group I was in consisted of future students of CBU, current students of nearby universities, and early professionals like myself. The topics of discussion ranged from our predictions for the field of Sport Psychology, the influence of social media on the mental well-being of athletes, and the intersectionality of other departments coexisting with Mental Performance Coaches within a sports organization. These discussions allowed for open dialogue and connections of different perspectives of how this new field is evolving. The first keynote speaker of the conference was Dr. Carrie Hastings, current Team Psychologist for the Los Angeles Rams National Football League (NFL) team and CEO of Sport Psychology. Dr. Hastings began her presentation with her personal journey through sports as a child and as a Track & Field athlete at the University of Notre Dame. She then gave some insights into her daily schedule with professional football players and the topics of discussions she has with them pertaining to mental performance. The individualized programs she runs with the rookies and players placed on the injured reserves list, brings special attention to the players who are transitioning into the lifestyle and those who have to spend a small time of the season watching from the sidelines. Dr. Hastings emphasized the importance for a focus of mental health in athletics and what exactly separates the longevity of a career from one that does not remain at an elite level. "When two athletes have the exact same level of ability, the one with the better mindset will win every time." --Dr. Carrie Hastings Former Major League Baseball (MLB) catcher, Chris Stewart, kicked off the second day of the conference as a keynote speaker at 9AM. Chris highlighted his baseball career beginning at Riverside Community College (RCC) out of high school and the wavering confidence it took to reach the professional level. Despite not receiving much playing time his first year at RCC, he was still noticed by professional scouts and was drafted in 2001 by the Chicago White Soxs. Not immediately receiving a major league appearance and proving his skills with minor league AA/AAA affiliates, Chris shifted his mindset to know that there will be a multitude of teams that he could contribute towards. Once the chance came with the San Francisco Giants, Chris understood his opportunities were out of his control, but could control how prepared he was when the time came. Reaching retirement in 2019, Chris knew there was more to accomplish outside of baseball and the length of time out of the sport would outlast the time as an active player. He maintained being at the top his game for nearly 20 years, received advice from each and every coach, and emphasized how the work never stops to compete at an elite level. The platform of professional baseball for Chris, was the system in which he was fulfilling his purpose and advocated for all the attendees to find and live for their purpose. "It is easier to reach the pinnacle, than it is to stay there."--Chris Stewart To follow Chris' presentation was a special group of women encompassing the Elite Athlete Panel, including Lindsay Davis (Figure Skater), Jasmine Johnson (Overseas Pro Basketball), and Katie McLaughlin (Olympic Swimmer). Each of these women competed at the professional level in their respective sports and discussed the psychological hurdles and ethical challenges they faced being pro female athletes. Despite there being differences in motivating factors between team and individualized sports, being supported by a larger group or organization (i.e. Team USA) was the common denominator. Once at the elite level, they all experienced challenges of having male coaches and a sense of focus shift from culture building (process goals) at the youth/high school levels, while the professional level was more business and winning focused (outcome goals). Understanding the specific goal needed to be achieved, creates the purpose for which the season serves. Former Chief Sport Performance Officer for USA Women's Water Polo and current Associate AD for Health, Wellness, and Sports Performance at UC Irvine, John Abdou, was the final keynote speaker of the conference. John provided images and an anecdotal experience of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Due to the unfortunate spread of COVID-19, the Games were postponed to 2021 and caused the athletes in training, to mentally shift their focus in competing another 14 months after the announcement of postponement. The role of mental health practitioners was crucial at this point in time for Olympic athletes. Building a system around athletes that will sustain and thrive into the following year was an important role for John, specifically gathering individuals from different fields that will integrate rather than collaborate with one another. Understanding the role of a Mental Performance Coach/Team Psychologist as a crisis responder must be impactful with actions rather than words. Relationships with coaches is paramount in being influential in decision making and the language used with athletes, ("We" vs "I") promoting inclusion as a piece of an entire performance model that provides a multitude of resources. "Can you model the level of adaptability you encourage out of athletes [and performers]?"--John Abdou In addition to the keynote speakers mentioned, various research projects were presented from graduate students and professors across Southern California. Topics consisted of coping strategies from a cultural perspective, leadership development, coaching styles, student-athlete mental health preferences, emotional control/mental toughness, self-compassion, and weight biases. An additional presentation spoke on a different population benefitting from traditional mental performance training, was presented by an early professional based in Los Angeles and works with individuals in the entertainment industry (i.e. musicians, dancers, actors, comedians, directors, etc.). The breadth of knowledge and experiences shared over one weekend was a privilege to be a part of as an attendee of the conference. As an early professional in this growing field, I took an approach of absorbing as much information as possible attending my first AASP conference. The position of a Team Psychologist at the professional level, is a role I strive to achieve and felt privileged to be in the presence of such a knowledgeable and experienced individual with Dr. Carrie Hastings. I look forward to attending my second AASP conference this coming April in Long Beach discussing Diversity in Sport. For more information on AASP and the keynote speakers of the conference, visit their links below: Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) Dr. Carrie Hastings Chris Stewart John Abdou You are welcome to leave a comment sharing thoughts and opinions or even asking questions for myself and fellow subscribers. Please subscribe below to be notified about additional content coming soon!

Unknown Struggles of Beloved Dancer, tWitch What was the reason behind So You Think You Can Dance judge, tWitch Boss' untimely end to his life? The performing arts and film industry was shaken by the sudden passing of Stephen "tWitch" Boss (1982-2022), former contestant and current judge of the dancing competition show So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD) this past December. News broke over social media that tWitch's wife, Allison Holker, had reported to the Los Angeles Police Department that he left their home without taking his car, which was unlike him to do. That same day, police responded to a shooting at the Oak Tree Inn in Encino, where tWitch was found deceased after missing his checkout time. Police determined that tWitch took an Uber to the motel and turned his phone on airplane mode to not be tracked or contacted. His cause of death came to be a suicide and a note left by tWitch did not reveal specific details but did mention challenges he has faced in the past. Survived by his wife Allison and three children Weslie (14), Maddox (6), and Zaia (3), the family must continue on without their husband and father bringing a positive energy to their lives each day. Stardom began for tWitch in 2008 on season 4 of SYTYCD, where he placed as runner-up and later became an All-Star mentor in seasons 7-9. Following his season of SYTYCD, twitch was featured in films such as Stomp the Yard: Homecoming, Step Up 3D, Step Up Revolution, Step Up: All In, and Magic Mike XXL. It was through the world of dance and SYTYCD that tWitch met his wife, Allison Holker who was a contestant on the show in season 2 and as well became an All-Star mentor in seasons 7-11 and 14. The two married in 2013 and had two children together, a son in 2016 and a daughter in 2019. Allison's daughter from a previous relationship was later adopted by tWitch after being married. In 2014, tWitch was featured as a guest DJ on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and later that year became the permanent DJ. In 2020, he was signed on as a co-executive producer for the daytime talk show. His return to the SYTYCD stage came in 2022 as a permanent judge in season 17. The positive presence and impact tWitch had across the dance, music, film, and TV industries was more than he may have realized. Actors Viola Davis and Channing Tatum, comedian Ellen DeGeneres, and former First Lady Michelle Obama paid tributes on social media and spoke on the love he had for what he did and the joy he brought to any room he was in. The last Instagram post made by tWitch featured him and his wife, Allison with all smiles dancing to a choreographed routine together, which came just two days before ending his life. For an individual who was a beam of light to all who knew him, how could there be a burden so large and secrets so dark that it would lead to taking his own life at the age of 40? Mental health for performers including dancers, actors, and musicians, does not receive enough attention in comparison to the amount of ridicule given by critics, news reporters, and comments said about them on social media. Given that the details surrounding tWitch's mental health struggles have not been released at this point, specific counseling would be scarce. However, opinions made about one's appearance, quality of performances, and every action made both in-person and on social media gets monitored by the public. All those individuals speaking on a person's life without knowing them personally can be draining emotionally and mentally. With the following and platform like that of tWitch's, he was one of the few that would rarely have negative comments made about him. There is very little, if any scandalous news about tWitch and his family out in the public. That is part of the reason why his death came as shock the way it did. We can never doubt that an individual with a joyous personality does not ever experience deep rooted sadness or severe mental health challenges. A public figure like tWitch has an expectation from the public and colleagues to remain a positive figure and never allowed a space to expose the sadder moments of their life. Empathy and compassion are qualities that our society needs more of and recognizing that performers need the mental and emotional support due to the expectations placed on them as public figures. The dance world's loss of tWitch is an unfortunate lesson to check-in with your loved ones and friends on a regular basis as there may be important information they are not sharing. You are welcome to leave a comment sharing thoughts and opinions or even asking questions for myself and fellow subscribers. Please subscribe below to be notified about additional content coming soon!

NFL Player's Safety Concerns on the Field Players in the NFL speak on the playing conditions regarding the differences in turf across the league. #SaferFields. That is the hashtag you will see across social media, with posts from NFL players speaking out on their concerns on the conditions of the fields throughout the league. The types of playing surfaces (turf vs grass) are not consistent across all NFL stadiums. Among monofilament, slit film, and dual fiber, slit film has statistically higher in-game injury rates compared to the others (NFLPA, 2022). The National Football League's Players Association (NFLPA) reports that 7 teams currently use slit film in their stadiums including the New York Giants, New York Jets, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts, and Cincinnati Bengals. Players across the league have shared their voices publicly with the demand to play on natural grass, rather than synthetic surfaces such as turf in order to reduce the rates of injuries. There is a lower amount of year-round maintenance required with turf than natural grass, which is the positive to its use at the professional level. However, the risk turf has presented to the players' safety and success, is it worth the NFL making major renovations to their stadiums and listening to their players requests for safe working conditions? As professional athletes, their working conditions dictate the quality of performance executed on the field and the amount of playing time received. Like any other profession, when the working conditions are compromised, the mental and physical well-being of the individual is not at an adequate level to meet their job requirements. If the expectation is for NFL players to be standouts on the field and sacrifice their bodies each week for the benefit of the spectators and fans, then shouldn't there be every precaution in place to make them the healthiest overall? The level of equity across the league in regards to quality of equipment and resources is not balanced and there seems to be a turning point arriving soon for the players to be dictating what they want out of the league. The current standards that the NFL has for their fields only evaluates the maintenance condition of the surface and surface hardness, which has been in place for more than 13 years. However, there are researchers in collaboration with the NFL who have found that the current surfaces are clearly not up to the safety standards that they should be. The NFLPA wrote a letter to the NFL in November 2022 demanding for the immediate removal of the slit-film synthetic fields and to put a ban on them for future seasons, both in stadiums and practice fields. There have been refusals from the league for both an immediate and future change to take away slit film from their fields. A number of players are spreading their opinions throughout social media, but on Twitter you will find the following quote shared by athletes such as Dalton Schultz (TE), Charley Hughlett (LS), and Jonathan Feliciano (C): We know the data--our union and the league agree that we should eliminate slit film turf. But the NFL isn't willing to mandate this change, so we as players are going to keep talking about the issue until it changes. There is a concern that the lack of decision making from the NFL is going to result in some drastic repercussions. The previous and current injuries sustained by players on the synthetic turf surfaces are clearly are not enough to be accounted for as the NFL has not made a decision for the betterment of their athletes. In the conclusion of an article from the NFLPA, the players themselves have a simple message for the NFL, "stop the lip service, stop with the media spin, stop pretending you care." They continue on with if the league actually does care, then intentional steps need to be taken to fix the issues the union has identified and that the league agrees with. With the end of the regular NFL season emerging and the astonishing season-ending injuries being sustained by players, there is hope that those with the power to make the necessary changes will initiate these in the off-season. Until those changes come, the safety and well-being of the players is a number one concern while they continue on with the rest of their season and playing careers. Tretter, JC. (2022). NFL Player health and safety lies beneath the surface. National Football Player's Association (NFLPA). Retrieved from https://nflpa.com/posts/nfl-player-health-safety-lies-beneath-the-surface You are welcome to leave a comment sharing thoughts and opinions or even asking questions for myself and fellow subscribers. Please subscribe below to be notified about additional content coming soon!

Minority Leader Striving for Lasting Change My identity as an educated Black female leader, shaping the ongoing challenges in sports & mental health. In the male dominated world of sports and the female dominated world of mental health, crossing the two fields in sport psychology and performance enhancement begins to break down the boundaries of an emotionally distant society. After leaving the life of competitive dance since the age of 3, I began my journey in sports as an athlete, playing basketball and running track at the age of 12. Moving into high school, basketball became my main sport of focus and enjoyment. However, basketball was not going to lead me to a playing career in college, instead the transition was made to the other side of the game as a coach at the high school level and a student-employee in marketing of college athletics. Establishing myself as a credible and competent leader of young women in a male-centered profession has been the most rewarding challenge thus far in my career. Surrounded by strong female leadership as a child, enabled the drive and determination to inspire the next generation of athletes to dominate in their sports. That sense of dominance, however negated the sensitivity for mental health and an awareness of self-love and/or self-care on a regular basis. I was not prepared or warned about the anxiety and overwhelming stress I would experience in college as a full-time student majoring in psychology and working three part-time jobs to both gain applicable experience in my field and sustain a living for myself. No mentors or leaders were available to guide me through the most healthy way of navigating the full schedule that I was responsible with at the time. Striving for success and a lasting impact continued after receiving my Bachelor's degree in Psychology and then two years later, receiving my Master's degree in Sport and Performance Psychology. Realizing how vital it is to have a stable support system and be emotionally sound, no matter at what age, is why I have made mental health and wellness a staple of my career field. Understanding that athletes and performers are not exempt from these challenges and ensuring that they receive mental health assistance is the trajectory I aspire to achieve as an individual with a leadership platform. Living in a society that celebrates a hard work ethic and punishes entitlement and laziness, contributes to the increases in burnout and lack of consideration for rest and relaxation. I myself have fallen victim to the cycle of long days and short nights in order to achieve greatness. Allowing more room for recognition and awareness of when an individual takes a stance in protecting their mental health needs to be respected and supported. The negative outcomes of these situations result in the widespread occurrences of depression, anxiety, suicide, and/or eating disorders developing around the world. The role I aspire to create for athletes and performers of all ages is to provide a platform and space to be given for dialogue and conversations to be heard and validated regarding mental health and wellness. Following through with the information shared then gives these individuals the tools for adjustments and interventions to be put in place to then grow a lasting impact and change for the better. The journey to overall wellness is never completed and requires both myself and the individuals I work with to have the vulnerability to admit the hard truths that subconsciously affects our lives and humble enough to continue learning about the differences in perspective from others. As I write this, the new year of 2023 is approaching in a few days and I am amazed at what a magical year 2022 has been, not only for myself, but for the world of sports as well. Successes and obstacles are a part of every year, but this year specifically resulted in a multitude of personal transformations that have jump started a new level of goals to be accomplished. I am excited to share what will come along during this upcoming year and the journey of growing my presence in the sport and performance psychology field. You are welcome to leave a comment sharing thoughts and opinions or even asking questions for myself and fellow subscribers. Please subscribe below to be notified about additional content coming soon!

Virginia Footballs' Sudden End of a Season How will UVA Football recover as a program following the death of three players? Following a shooting that took place on November 13th, 2022, three University of Virginia (UVA) football players were tragically killed on a charter bus full of students who were returning to campus after seeing a play at the state capitol. Juniors, Devin Chandler (WR), Lavel Davis Jr. (WR), and D'Sean Perry (LB) were the fatal victims, along with two other students who were injured by the suspect and former UVA football player, Christopher Darnell Jones, Jr. The Monday following the shooting, classes and extracurriculars at UVA were canceled, including a 12 hour long campus-wide shelter-in-place while law enforcement completed a search of the campus. Jones was arrested roughly 76 miles southeast of the campus the next morning and will be charged with three counts of second-degree murder and three counts of using a handgun to commit a felony. After attending the event with his victims and upon the bus return back to campus, Jones opened fire on about two dozen others, killing the three players and injuring two others, one of them also being a football player. A witness to the shooting, stated that Jones' pulled out his gun and pushed one of the deceased players with his last words being "You guys are always messing with me," before opening fire. As a former player and student of the university, Jones had previously been on the radar of campus police from violating a concealed weapons rule back in February 2021. It is unclear as to the full motive or circumstances for the shooting, but all three players were standouts both on the field and in the classroom, according to Head Coach Tony Elliott. Their deaths come as a shock and heartbreak to their team, campus, family, and communities. The team's final two games were set to be played against Coastal Carolina (Nov 19th) and Virginia Tech (Nov 26th), but canceled due to the recent events. With their first game back after the shooting, the UVA Men's Basketball team honored the victims by wearing sweatshirts during warmups with the deceased players names and jersey numbers on their backs and "UVA Strong" on the front. Players, coaches, and the campus community are now left to heal from this loss with an uncompleted season and return next year, expected to have their minds reset to compete for a championship title. With concerns of safety on campus and stricter gun control policies for the state of Virginia, mental stability will be challenging for the remaining student-athletes. Recommendations for the team moving forward are to attend counseling sessions both on an individual basis and as an entire program in the upcoming off-season and/or resume while preparing for next season. Coaches need to create a policy of open communication and culture for everyone to heal from the tragedy, especially for those involved. Honoring the deceased players somewhere in the locker room or on the field stands as a reminder for their contribution to the university and football organization. Funerals for the victims are taking place on Saturday, November 26th for D'Sean in Miami, FL; Sunday, November 27th for Devin in Virginia Beach, VA; and Wednesday, November 30th for Lavel in South Carolina. Please follow the GoFundMe links for Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D'Sean Perry to help the victims' families during this difficult time. You are welcome to leave a comment sharing thoughts and opinions or even asking questions for myself and fellow subscribers. Please subscribe below to be notified about additional content coming soon!

From WNBA Champion to Russian Prisoner The psychological impact of WNBA player, Brittney Griner's multi-year imprisonment in Russia. On February 17, 2022, WNBA player, Brittney Griner was detained at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Russia on the possession of vape cartridges containing marijuana concentrate hashish oil, which was found in her luggage. Following countless hours of interrogation, questioning, diplomatic efforts between U.S. President Biden and Russian President Putin, and the process of trial, Griner plead guilty and was sentenced to 9.5 years in prison this past August on possession and transportation of an illegal substance charges. Despite her plea, Brittney insists that she had no intentions of breaking the law or any purposeful malicious actions. In early November, without the knowledge of her attorneys and family, Russian officials moved Griner to the Female Penal Colony IK-2 in Yavas, about 300 miles from Moscow. Coming of an NCAA National Championship with Baylor University, Brittney Griner was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft. Selected by the Phoenix Mercury, the 6'9" center has since made a significant impact on the league and for the game of basketball internationally as an Olympian and professional player overseas with China and Russia. Earning a spot on the WNBA All-Rookie Team (2013), awarded Defensive Player of the Year (2014 & 2015), and earning her first WNBA Championship in 2014--to name just a few of her accolades--Griner has been a force to be reckoned with in women's basketball. Her detainment came as a shock and rocked the entire league, in addition to the world of sports. With the support of multiple college coaches including Dawn Staley (South Carolina) and Geno Auriemma (Connecticut), players and coaches throughout the WNBA and NBA are fighting for Brittney's release. Upon gearing up for a return to the States for the 2022 WNBA Season with the Mercury, Brittney had just completed her eight consecutive season with the Russian women's basketball team, UMMC Ekaterinburg, when the marijuana vape cartridges were found in her possession in her luggage at the Russian airport. Her detainment came at a time when the war between Russia and Ukraine was just beginning, causing her case to be vastly overlooked by Russian law enforcement. With little contact between family, friends, and teammates, and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Brittney's psychological well-being and safety raises a great amount of concern. Forced to communicate through her attorneys, Griner has written letters back and forth to her wife, Cherelle Griner, talked on the phone with her twice since February, and sent U.S. President Joe Biden a letter fighting for her innocence and to be brought back home to her native land. Despite having access to reading books and being fed a well-rounded diet, is not enough to prepare her for the 9.5 year prison sentence she is now faced with. The inconsistent communication and unknown circumstances surrounding her true conditions, are bound to take a toll on her mind, body, and soul. With a number of safety concerns, the potential for Brittney to harm herself or be assaulted while in custody is at the top of the list. The hopes moving forward for Brittney are that she will get an early release on good behavior and/or be granted parole prior to the completion of her sentence. Upon release, if Brittney were to make a return to the WNBA, a roster spot still remains with the Phoenix Mercury, but a number of requirements would be expected including therapy and a psychological wellness clearance. Given her case has taken place in the country of her overseas professional team, it would understandable if Brittney were to decide make the transition to a different team for the winter seasons. Updates and changes still surround Brittney's case at this point, but it is unclear if and when the WNBA star will make her return to the United States and be back on the basketball court with #42 on her back. If you wish to contribute to the early release of Brittney Griner, visit wearebg.org or Change.org and sign the petition on her behalf. You are welcome to leave a comment sharing thoughts and opinions or even asking questions for myself and fellow subscribers. Please subscribe below to be notified about additional content coming soon!

Introduction: Sport Psychology & Mental Health. Why? How do athletes and performers train/exercise their minds as they do physically with their bodies? The stigma surrounding mental health and wellness is dissipating from a societal perspective. However, in the field of athletics and performing arts, there is an increasing number of individuals beginning take a stand for themselves and make their mental health a priority. Sport Psychology An individual's mind allows outside circumstances and their own wandering thoughts to dictate how they compete, which has a direct outcome on the quality of performance. The dynamics within team and individualized sports each involve their own levels of focus/concentration, motivational rewards/consequences, intentions for goal setting, and significance of role placement, among many others. Advocacy for the mental well-being of athletes and consistency in reaching optimal performance, encompasses the field of Sport Psychology. Future Content Content to be shared in the future will surround trends and interventions being used to improve mental performance of athletes and performers. Additionally, popular circumstances in the media about collegiate and professional athlete/performer mental health and wellness. You are welcome to leave a comment sharing thoughts and opinions or even asking questions for myself and fellow subscribers. Please subscribe below to be notified about additional content coming soon!