Resiliency in a student athlete: Demanding but possible to achieve. By David Adkins.

Resiliency in a student Resiliency in a student athlete:athlete:

Demanding but possible to Demanding but possible to achieve.achieve.

By David AdkinsBy David Adkins

What I hope to accomplish from What I hope to accomplish from this presentationthis presentation

• Define Resiliency• How stress effects the

body• Identify some

stressors faced by teens

• Identify different challenges faced by student-athletes

• How they can stay positive

Define ResiliencyDefine Resiliency

• Resiliency is the persons ability to bounce back.

• Take the events that happen in your life and find the positive.

• This is something inside you from birth.

Define Resiliency Cont’d.Define Resiliency Cont’d.Babies and children access it easilyBabies and children access it easily• At play

– Kids fight over toys and play resumes shortly after

– Kids bounce back quickly.

– At right is my son, born 9 weeks premature and at his 1year birthday party.

How stress can effect the bodyHow stress can effect the body

• Major Risk Factors– Heart attack– Stroke– Hypertension

• Minor Risk Factors– Headache– Neck pain– Ulcers

Identify some stressors faced by Identify some stressors faced by teensteens

• Parent/Teacher influence– Grades– SAT/ACT scores– Homework– Household chores

• Peer influence– Parties/social

gathering– Dances – Phone calls/Text

messages– Drugs including

alcohol

Challenges Faced by Student-Challenges Faced by Student-AthletesAthletes

• Time Constraints

• Physical Exhaustion

• Diet Important

• Pressure from Coaches

• Pressure from Parents

• Pressure from other Athletes

Challenges Faced by Student-Challenges Faced by Student-Athletes: Time ConstraintsAthletes: Time Constraints

• In Season Practice– 2 to 4 hours after

school– Learning

schemes/plays– Learning opponents

schemes/plays– Physically demanding

• Off Season Practice– Long exhausting

workouts– 2 to 3 hours 3 days

per week– Lifting weights,

plyometrics, and conditioning all year long

– 3 week spring practice in June

Challenges Faced by Student-Challenges Faced by Student-Athletes: Time ConstraintsAthletes: Time Constraints

• Less time to spend with friends

• Physically and mentally tired

• Still required to perform well in school and with chores

• Less time with girlfriend/boyfriend

Challenges Faced by Student-Challenges Faced by Student-AthletesAthletes

• Physically Exhaustion– Workouts are long

whether in or out of season

– Athletes are challenged to push themselves and their teammates to strive to be better

• Diet Important– Athletes should control

their diet– Drink more water than

normal, NO POP!!!– Lean protein, fruits,

and vegetables– Limit amount of grease

and fat

Challenges Faced by Student-Challenges Faced by Student-AthletesAthletes

• Pressure from Coaches– Always strive to be better while keeping a

positive attitude– Whether lifting, running or practicing, always

do your best– Be present at every practice, workout session,

and game

Challenges Faced by Student-Challenges Faced by Student-AthletesAthletes

• Pressure from Parents– Many times student is expected to be the star

both on the field and in classroom– Parents can be a very negative influence

• Making inappropriate comments about other players or coaches

Challenges Faced by Student-Challenges Faced by Student-AthletesAthletes

• Pressure from other Teammates– One purpose of training and competing is to

win but this is not the ONLY purpose– Encourage teamwork– Teaches kids to trust each other– Build positive self-esteem– Stay positive even in the face of adversity

How can they stay positiveHow can they stay positive

• With all of these different challenges it is easy to get burned out

• Plan to make the most of your free time– Movies– Camping– Fishing– Mall– Hanging out with friends

How can they stay positive: Don’t How can they stay positive: Don’t dwell on the negativedwell on the negative

• When you make a bad play:– Identify the cause– Decide how it could

have been avoided– Move forward; tell

yourself it is not the end of the world and you have learned from it

• When others make a bad play:– Encourage them– Tell them they WILL

do better next time– Help them find the

best plan to avoid that mistake

How can they stay positiveHow can they stay positive

• Focus on small victories– Celebrate getting even a little bit faster,

stronger, etc.– Pat each other on the back and high five

simple achievements– ALWAYS encourage the progress and

achievements of every athlete, especially the younger players, not just the star