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Coaches spend countless hours teaching young athletes how to become better competitors. Increasingly, they’re also being asked to recognize anxiety, depression, burnout and other mental health concerns.
To help them meet that challenge, several youth and high school coaches from across the region gathered at M&T Bank Stadium on Monday for Sheppard Pratt’s third annual Mental Health Training Camp.
The event brought together coaches, athletic directors, athletic trainers and sports leaders to learn practical ways to support athletes beyond wins and losses.
“Mental health has become a huge part of athletics,” said Tyrone Turner, athletic trainer at Loch Raven High School. “It’s something that isn’t talked about as much, but it is growing. This was a great opportunity to learn and take some things back to my athletes.”
Coaches are increasingly being asked to support athletes beyond the scoreboard as anxiety, burnout and other mental health challenges become more prevalent among young people.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 50% of people who experience a lifetime mental health condition show their first symptoms by age 14. By age 24, that figure rises to 75%.
“There are children out here struggling with their mental health, even high-performing athletes,” said Dr. Harsh K. Trivedi, president and CEO of Sheppard Pratt. “There is no better time than right now to empower coaches, athletic directors and trainers. We want to be in the community giving everyone the tools to help our struggling athletes.”
Trivedi joined former professional baseball player Ryan Ripken for an opening discussion about the state of youth mental health and the role sports can play in both supporting and challenging young athletes.
“We love sports, and we love what they can bring — commitment, dedication and life skills,” Ripken said. “Now, with this extra focus on mental health, we’re looking to unlock the potential of athletes while also keeping them healthy for the future.”
Trivedi agreed, noting that today’s athletes have more access to the world than ever before — a blessing and a curse for a generation constantly exposed to outside opinions.
“Our kids now live in a world of constant access and constant feedback, both good and bad, because everything is posted on social media,” he said. “Social media is something you should use to tell your journey. It’s not something you should use to determine your worth.”
The focus then shifted from conversation to action as attendees were given practical tools they could take back to their own teams and communities.
Just as they expect from their athletes, coaches stayed engaged throughout the day, taking notes while participating in interactive exercises and Mental Health First Aid training. Breakout sessions focused on injury recovery, performance anxiety, pressure to succeed and recognizing when an athlete might need additional support. Many coaches left with new strategies they plan to implement this season.
“Mr. Ripken said something important about taking breaks,” said Marquees Dent, who serves on the board of the Baltimore Orioles Nike RBI League. “You have to take those breaks to reset mentally and avoid burnout. I’m all about relationships, breaking down barriers and building trust so when a kid comes to me, we can have those tough, honest conversations and I can guide them through what’s best for them, not just as an athlete, but as a human being.”
While mental health professionals offered strategies for supporting young athletes, organizers also wanted attendees to hear from those who have navigated those pressures firsthand.
NWSL player Ashley Hatch, former NFL player and current Baltimore Ravens area scout Terrell Parker and former Orioles player Larry Sheets shared their perspectives on resilience, mental wellness and the demands of competing at the highest levels.
“I had to really sit down after my first year and ask myself who I was outside of soccer,” Hatch said. “I connected with our team’s mental performance coach and really had to look within myself. Spending time with my family, going on hikes and finding things that helped me reset made me a better athlete.”
Although each panelist’s journey was different, their experiences echoed the central message of the afternoon: Mental health deserves the same care and attention as physical health.
“We talk about mental makeup a lot when scouting,” Parker said. “Is this guy a good teammate? How does he respond to adversity? Does he isolate himself, and if so, why? It’s all important. You have to take care of the mental side of the game just as much now.”
The lessons shared Monday weren’t intended to help coaches draw up better game plans. Instead, organizers hope those in attendance left better prepared to recognize when a young athlete needs encouragement, support or professional help long before the final whistle.
“We focus on the physical so much that sometimes the mental gets lost,” Dent said. “This kind of training helps me become a better leader and gives me a better understanding at every level. The things we learn from an opportunity like this can go right into the dugout and help improve not just our kids’ skills on the field, but, most importantly, their mental health and quality of life.”
Have a news tip? Contact Timothy Dashiell at [email protected] and x.com/dashielltimothy.
Continue reading...
To help them meet that challenge, several youth and high school coaches from across the region gathered at M&T Bank Stadium on Monday for Sheppard Pratt’s third annual Mental Health Training Camp.
The event brought together coaches, athletic directors, athletic trainers and sports leaders to learn practical ways to support athletes beyond wins and losses.
“Mental health has become a huge part of athletics,” said Tyrone Turner, athletic trainer at Loch Raven High School. “It’s something that isn’t talked about as much, but it is growing. This was a great opportunity to learn and take some things back to my athletes.”
Coaches are increasingly being asked to support athletes beyond the scoreboard as anxiety, burnout and other mental health challenges become more prevalent among young people.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 50% of people who experience a lifetime mental health condition show their first symptoms by age 14. By age 24, that figure rises to 75%.
“There are children out here struggling with their mental health, even high-performing athletes,” said Dr. Harsh K. Trivedi, president and CEO of Sheppard Pratt. “There is no better time than right now to empower coaches, athletic directors and trainers. We want to be in the community giving everyone the tools to help our struggling athletes.”
Trivedi joined former professional baseball player Ryan Ripken for an opening discussion about the state of youth mental health and the role sports can play in both supporting and challenging young athletes.
“We love sports, and we love what they can bring — commitment, dedication and life skills,” Ripken said. “Now, with this extra focus on mental health, we’re looking to unlock the potential of athletes while also keeping them healthy for the future.”
Trivedi agreed, noting that today’s athletes have more access to the world than ever before — a blessing and a curse for a generation constantly exposed to outside opinions.
“Our kids now live in a world of constant access and constant feedback, both good and bad, because everything is posted on social media,” he said. “Social media is something you should use to tell your journey. It’s not something you should use to determine your worth.”
The focus then shifted from conversation to action as attendees were given practical tools they could take back to their own teams and communities.
Just as they expect from their athletes, coaches stayed engaged throughout the day, taking notes while participating in interactive exercises and Mental Health First Aid training. Breakout sessions focused on injury recovery, performance anxiety, pressure to succeed and recognizing when an athlete might need additional support. Many coaches left with new strategies they plan to implement this season.
“Mr. Ripken said something important about taking breaks,” said Marquees Dent, who serves on the board of the Baltimore Orioles Nike RBI League. “You have to take those breaks to reset mentally and avoid burnout. I’m all about relationships, breaking down barriers and building trust so when a kid comes to me, we can have those tough, honest conversations and I can guide them through what’s best for them, not just as an athlete, but as a human being.”
While mental health professionals offered strategies for supporting young athletes, organizers also wanted attendees to hear from those who have navigated those pressures firsthand.
NWSL player Ashley Hatch, former NFL player and current Baltimore Ravens area scout Terrell Parker and former Orioles player Larry Sheets shared their perspectives on resilience, mental wellness and the demands of competing at the highest levels.
“I had to really sit down after my first year and ask myself who I was outside of soccer,” Hatch said. “I connected with our team’s mental performance coach and really had to look within myself. Spending time with my family, going on hikes and finding things that helped me reset made me a better athlete.”
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Although each panelist’s journey was different, their experiences echoed the central message of the afternoon: Mental health deserves the same care and attention as physical health.
“We talk about mental makeup a lot when scouting,” Parker said. “Is this guy a good teammate? How does he respond to adversity? Does he isolate himself, and if so, why? It’s all important. You have to take care of the mental side of the game just as much now.”
The lessons shared Monday weren’t intended to help coaches draw up better game plans. Instead, organizers hope those in attendance left better prepared to recognize when a young athlete needs encouragement, support or professional help long before the final whistle.
“We focus on the physical so much that sometimes the mental gets lost,” Dent said. “This kind of training helps me become a better leader and gives me a better understanding at every level. The things we learn from an opportunity like this can go right into the dugout and help improve not just our kids’ skills on the field, but, most importantly, their mental health and quality of life.”
Have a news tip? Contact Timothy Dashiell at [email protected] and x.com/dashielltimothy.
Continue reading...
