College, high school, and middle school athletes face very unique challenges, especially in today’s world.
They're experiencing intense pressure amidst the rapidly growing competition, social media influence, costs, time-commitments, and mental and physical demands involved in sports. As such, most athletes know that sports are just as much a mental game as they are a physical game. No matter how strong you are physically, if your mental wellness isn’t solid, it’s inevitable that you won’t be able to perform at your best.
As an athlete, it's common to experience self-doubt, self-criticism, comparing yourself to others, anxiety, fear of failing/messing up, and mental blocks. On top of this, you’re definitely facing the inevitable physical challenges of competing, including muscle soreness and exhaustion. If you’re not adequately resting, eating healthy, hydrating, stretching, and warming up, it’s possible that you’re dealing with fatigue, headaches, irritability, lightheadedness, nausea, or injuries. If these mental and physical struggles are left unaddressed, you risk hurting yourself and not reaching your athletic performance goals.