The COVID-19 Pandemic affecting our everyday lives has launched our society into an era of unprecedented times. ASPIRE Sports Institute is here to support our partners virtually in any way we can. With our focus on club and youth athletes, we are uniquely aware of the physical, mental, and emotional burden this crisis is having on each and every individual. Below, we have outlined some resources specific to the athlete regarding mental health:
As you are painfully aware, sports leagues have universally been ceasing active competition. Although this decision was welcomed by most as definitive support by sport leaders for the health of their athletes, the collective disappointment of athletes was felt across the United States. This information is here to help weather this emotional storm with you.
We anticipate that the spectrum of emotions our athletes will continue to experience will include relief, disappointment, sadness, anger, confusion, and uncertainty. These will come in waves and in stages, and not everyone will follow the same path.
There are several pathways that athletes may follow over the next few weeks:
- One path follows forward-thinking: continuing to train (with recommended social distance) and maintain goals, while utilizing support and trusting that your opportunities for sport competition will still come.
- Another path follows uncertainty, with swirling insecurity about a future that has a vague outline of sport with continued functioning in what you need to do in life.
- Yet others follow worsening trails of desolation, negativity, sadness, frustration, and feelings of loss or meaninglessness.
The most important things you can do right now are to do whatever it takes to keep moving
forward:
- Maintain your nutrition. Visit: Comp(EAT) and Achieve Nutrition Link
- Find time to exercise- it may not be your typical training, but movement is medicine. Visit: D1 To U Exercise App Here This program has workouts for athletes ranging from 6-85. It also has an accountability component, nutritional tips and communication, and a great community aspect so you can communicate with your coach and others participating in the program.
- Try to get enough sleep.
- STAY CONNECTED. You are not alone in this. There are hundreds of athletes, and athletes across other sports and leagues, who are feeling the same things you are. There is solidarity and connection in that! Stay in contact (again, with recommended social distancing) with people who make you feel good, especially your coaches. Thankfully, we live in an era of endless ways to connect virtually.
- Maintain a regular daily schedule as much as possible, including regular sleep/wake times, changing clothes every morning, showering as usual, and regular meal times. Even if your schedule no longer requires such a routine, most people feel better with predictable, consistent schedules.
- Look to the future. The unknowns will start to take shape.
