Adolescence, Athletics and Psychology

(Originally written on June 6, 2006)

The next most important people out side of family and his or her coach for an athlete between 15 and 21 is their academic counselor.

The tasks of the Academic Counselor are found in the areas of:

1. Recruitment for the team – no sense having players who cannot meet the academic requirements of the league.

2. Psychological testing: is a good way to determine the academic potential of the player.

3. Orientation; some needs to explain in detail what it is life to be an academic student and player at the same time in that league.

4. Monitoring academics: once recruited and orientated then begins helping the athlete attain the goal of graduation.

5. Remediation: assists in securing tutors, courses and academic placement.

The role of Confident has been left mostly up to others who know the player.

But, the next important person to the player once he or she has made the big team after coaches, family and friends is a confident. In the past the confident could be most any one close to the player.

However the Danton case (St. Louis Blues player now in custody in the USA serving 7 years) suggest there is a strong role for psychologists to play in adolescent player development by taking on the role of confident to the player.

The Confident role to the adolescent player has now been expanded probably due to the entertainment nature of sport and subsequent monies earned by everyone. Now the confident role includes issues, concerns and problems generally studied by professions such as psychologists.

Some complex adolescent issues, concerns and problems revolve about

• Coping with success
• Identity conflict
• Social isolation
• Use and abuse of intoxicants
• Stress and burnout
• Athletic performance
• Vocation choice
• Transition to better teams and leagues
• Living away from home
• Self discipline
• Coping with new social groups
• Interpersonal relationships

Our Opinion

Adolescent athletes are vulnerable to loss of a good education and a good vocation when they leave home early to play sports. This not to say they should not take life opportunities as they arise. However, as their life consequences are great upon leaving home so early (for example, 15 to 18 years of age) it behooves us as their adult caregivers to provide the best psychological environment to grow and develop as players and citizens. To this end we think we need academic counselors and psychologists involved at all levels of minor sport after the age of 15.