Stress.

What an ugly six letter word. Stress leads to numerous responses from our athletes. Acute stress may elicit a positive performance thanks to adrenaline, but chronic stress may compromise the immune system, disrupt serotonin levels and sleep patterns, induce gastrointestinal issues, and affect concentration and learning.

As coaches, we spend hours upon hours with our athletes; in practice, traveling, during competition times, and maybe even in class if you are a teacher as well. We are a huge part of our athletes’ lives at two critical times of their lives. First, when they transition from high school to college. (This is scary!) I didn’t go too far for college but I have moved a couple of times and that was pretty nerve-wrecking at 20 and 23. I can’t imagine moving 5 hours or an entire country away at the age of 18, having never been away from home ever before. Sophomore and Junior year seem to go pretty smooth. (I’ve been here before. I’ve been through a year with my team and coaches and I know what’s coming in my near future.)
Then comes the second critical point, post-graduate plans. REAL. LIFE. (Holy cow, I just got here a couple years ago and I’m already supposed to be ready to go into the REAL WORLD?!) Seniors are trying to finish school successfully, apply for graduate school, internships, or jobs, or even plan a wedding or coordinate life with their significant others, all while still trying to focus on their training and competitions. Spring sports may be even more difficult, as they tend to continue on past graduation.

So, over the years, we really get to know a lot about our athletes and their lives on and off the field. But do we know enough? Are we listening to what they aren’t verbally telling us but to what their bodies are showing us on?

Is their demeanor normal?
Are they socializing with teammates?
How’s their training going?
How are their performances on the playing field?
Are they distracted during training sessions?
Do they simply look tired and worn out?

Listening and observing the cues they aren’t purposely telling us can make a huge difference. Then we can follow that up by asking questions so we can help them ourselves or get them the professional help they need. They may just need a recovery day or a day of yoga and time to de-stress. Although this may not be part of the training plan, a recovery day could be more beneficial. I’ve found that some of my athletes tend to ask for what they need, not in a “can I skip the workout?” way, but they ask for yoga and mobility/flexibility sessions more often. We are in a good routine of doing a hybrid core-mobility-yoga session every Thursday during fall training, but when we adjust the training plan during the competitive season and yoga is not as consistent, I definitely hear that they need it. This tells me that they get what they need from it. They get off the track, out of the weight room, away from the distractions of school, and into the yoga studio for some much needed de-stressing and relaxation. By truly listening to our athletes, hopefully we can get the breakthrough they deserve in their personal lives and therefore, their competitive lives.

Coach Cota

University of Maryland Medical Center. Stress. http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/stress