UNT Center for Sport Psychology

Congrats to one of our doctoral students, Megan Drew, for being awarded the 2021 APA Division 47 Thesis Award!

Center Doctoral Student Megan Drew Selected for 2021 APA Division 47 Thesis Award | Center for Sport Psychology It is with great excitement that we share that Megan Drew’s thesis project was selected by the Society for Sport, Exercise & Performance Psychology, APA Division 47, Cornerstone Committee for the 2021 Thesis Award! This award recognizes “outstanding student research that has the greatest potenti...

Our study, the Impact of COVID-19 on College Student Athletes’ Health, Performance, and Psychological Well-being (https://sportpsych.unt.edu/impact-covid-19-college-student-athletes%E2%80%99-health-performance-and-psychological-well-being), was recently featured in the Denton Record-Chronicle. You can read the full article here: https://dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/mean_green/study-led-by-unt-professor-looks-at-challenges-athletic-departments-face-in-pandemic/article_1e6626c1-f210-5a38-89b5-6c1a84c5a97d.html

An article by Delia O’Hara on how athletes are handling the uncertain times brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic features recent research conducted by the UNT Center for Sport Psychology (https://sportpsych.unt.edu/impact-covid-19-college-student-athletes%E2%80%99-health-performance-and-psychological-well-being) and comments by the Center’s Director, Dr. Trent A. Petrie. To read her article, follow this link: https://www.apa.org/members/content/athletes-covid-19.

Impact of COVID-19 on College Student Athletes’ Health, Performance, and Psychological Well-being | Center for Sport Psychology The COVID-19 pandemic and the cancellation of collegiate sports hit university athletic departments in early March, 2020, closing down college and university campuses and housing, sending hundreds of thousands of student athletes to live with family, friends, relatives, and others, and altering the....

Check out our newly released report on how collegiate student athletes are coping and functioning psychologically since the emergence of COVID-19 and the cancellation of collegiate sports here: https://sportpsych.unt.edu/impact-covid-19-college-student-athletes%E2%80%99-health-performance-and-psychological-well-being

In Solidarity with Black Lives Matter

George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and Ahmaud Arbery. Their senseless killings are only four of the countless racial injustices that have taken place in the history of this country. We, the Center for Sport Psychology and Performance Excellence, acknowledge the pain and suffering that has taken place over these last several weeks. These tragedies serve as a reminder that racism, marginalization, and systemic oppression are still rampant and pervasive; they have been woven into the fabric of our society through laws, regulations, policies, violence, and a lack of vision from our leaders. Our Center condemns any form of racialized violence and injustice. We hold firmly to the principle that silence in the face of racism is compliance to systems that maintain the status quo of oppression. Instead, we stand in solidarity with the Black community and want you to know you are not alone. We are actively working towards an anti-racist approach by educating ourselves, engaging in self-reflection about our own values and biases, and having difficult and meaningful dialogues on these topics. As a Center, we are committed to finding effective ways to speak out on social injustices and learning how we may promote equity and inclusion.

While police brutality is at the forefront of our country’s mind, it is only one representation of the systemic racism in our society that needs to be addressed. Equity and justice within education, housing, public health, hiring, and voting are a short list of the issues that are not being addressed. Such issues are also present in the world of sport where we see the effects of racism and systematic oppression include the negative reactions to athletes’ peaceful protests (e.g., kneeling during the national anthem) and the lack of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in coaching, management, or owner positions. We would be remiss to not acknowledge the Heritage of Black athletes, whose personal sacrifices and struggles often have been pushed aside in historical accounts of sport, yet whose efforts were key in the push for civil rights, decency and justice, both in sport and society. We are committed to addressing the outward and insidious forms of racism that affect BIPOC within sport. In addition, we acknowledge the ways in which race and ethnicity can intersect with other cultural identities (e.g., gender identity, sexual identity, socioeconomic status) to amplify experiences of injustice, discrimination, and oppression. We openly support athletes, staff, and leagues who are using their platform as a way to promote social justice and support the Black Lives Matter movement. In addition, we are working towards better understanding the systems of oppression in sport and providing social justice-oriented counseling.

Allyship is not just simply sharing posts and writing statements on a website. Active participation requires an understanding of history, racial injustice, and the intersectionality of marginalized identities in the United States. To White folks, we encourage you to continue educating yourself on racism, systematic oppression, and privilege alongside us as a Center. This education can be achieved through reading books and articles, watching videos, listening to podcasts, etc. Please check out this fantastic list, which also includes resources for members of the Black community and People of Color, created by our colleagues from the Association for Applied Sport Psychology: https://appliedsportpsych.org/resources/black-lives-matter-aasps-statement-resources-related-to-recent-racialized-events/
In addition, for students and early career professionals in the field of sport and exercise psychology, check out this video of the 2020 AASP Student Social Justice Forum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqw-PPY56YE&feature=youtu.be&t=6958

Other ways of being an ally include donating, protesting, signing petitions, (see: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/?fbclid=IwAR0KUCZVI8SscK9tKHnQwlbtoA4Gbnt52v6IVzfvyFVKHHHx1Jcvrcl0yNY), supporting your Black friends, family, and colleagues, and speaking out when you hear racist comments and see social injustices.

It is only together that we can take the momentum of this moment and dismantle the institutions and systems that have been used throughout the history of the United States to oppress, deny, incarcerate and kill black people and marginalize and discriminate against entire communities. Until Black lives matter, no one is truly safe and free.

Social Justice Statement | Center for Sport Psychology George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and Ahmaud Arbery. Their senseless killings are only four of the countless racial injustices that have taken place in the history of this country. We, the Center for Sport Psychology and Performance Excellence, acknowledge the pain and suffering that has ta...

What is your Why?

When we work with athletes and teams, we often ask them that question…what is your why? We do so to help them find meaning again in what they are doing, to reconnect with what motivates them internally, to possibly make different choices in what they choose to do…it can be easy in a busy, chaotic, stressful world to shift into doing and surviving mode and lose sight of what is important to us, what grounds us, excites us, connects us…what gives us purpose.

So for today, if you want, turn off all those other things that distract you and allow yourself some time to consider the question…what is your why? As you do, write down your thoughts and feelings…record them on your phone…they don’t have to be perfectly written or spoken…you can refine them later. Just start expressing what is important to you, what gives you and your life meaning.

Viktor Frankl was an Austrian psychiatrist who survived the N**i concentration camps and went on to write about his experiences and the importance of finding meaning, even in the worst of circumstances. In his famous book, Man’s Search for Meaning, he writes:

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

What will be your meaning? What will be your way?

Take care and be

Mindfulness Monday - Music

Even physically distanced, we can listen to music. Although music can spark many different emotions, we often just have it on in the background, not fully attending to or engaging with it. For this Mindfulness Monday, we invite you to bring yourself fully to a song or piece of music of your choice.

Pick a song or piece of music that you have listened to before…it does not have to be your favorite piece, though it can be if you want. Before starting the song, consider the following to help you be more fully engaged:

- What are the different instruments that are playing
- How does the music rise and fall throughout the song
- What are the different tones in the singer's voice or of a particular instrument
- What emotions come up for you as you listen
- How does your breathing change while listening to the song
- How does your body change as you listen…do you feel tense, relaxed, peaceful, etc.

Now, with these prompts in mind, turn on the song/music, close your eyes, and just let yourself be present…begin.

Once you have finished, take note of how you felt and write down your thoughts and feelings and experiences. You may even wish to try this practice with multiple songs and note how each song makes you feel…perhaps differently. You may even wish to listen to the same song again to see if you experience it differently. As you continue on with your day, try to return to awareness of the present moment, as you did while listening to the song.

Take care and be

Writing Ourselves Healthier…Part 2

On Wednesday, we looked at how expressive writing can help us work through our thoughts and feelings in constructive ways and lead us to feeling better physically and psychologically. Today, we want to introduce a variant of that process, something that also may be healing, but also just simply fun to do.

NPR has created a writing process to help us deal with the grief that we may be experiencing…whether from a loss of a job, a change in our identity, the sickness or death of a loved one, the isolation of working at home…so many different things are challenging us right now! In this process, you have the opportunity to write a poem to express what you are feeling, thinking, experiencing in relation to what you are going through. We know some of you may be thinking…poetry???...that’s not for me! Maybe…but what if trying it led to feeling more comfortable and at peace, more present with yourself and your friends, more positive and joyful…would it be worth doing then?

If you are interested, here is the link with all the information:

https://www.npr.org/2020/04/20/836950933/share-your-poems-of-hurting-and-healing

To make the process even more fun and connecting, make it a team or group activity…have everyone commit to writing something and then sharing it with each other. Have fun with it, bond, laugh, connect, cry…it can be a way to help you be closer to each other while you are still required to be physically apart.

Take are and be

Share Your Poems Of Hurting And Healing How can grief become an instrument of comfort? Morning Edition wants to hear from those whose lives have been affected by COVID-19 — in the form of a poem.

Writing Ourselves Healthier…

Expressive writing is a form of communicating our inner thoughts and feeling that has been pioneered by social psychologist Dr. James Pennebaker. Through scientific study, Pennebaker and colleagues have demonstrated how the process of expressing our feelings, more so than describing what has occurred, can lead to higher levels of physical and psychological well-being. To learn more about expressive writing and listen to Dr. Pennebaker:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/write-yourself-well/201208/expressive-writing

https://www.journaling.com/articles/expressive-writing-a-tool-for-transformation-with-dr-james-pennebaker-ph-d/

For some us, though, the idea of writing…of expressing the feelings we are having in relation to all that we are experiencing can seem overwhelming. Yet, that is the point…by focusing on something that has occurred in our lives, something that has been a source of grief, anxiety, trauma, discomfort, and then writing about what we feel is what can be transformative.

Expressive writing is not like running a marathon…one big event you do once in your life! It’s more like going out for a walk every day, something purposeful that you choose to do because you know it can help you both now and in the future. So, during these challenging times through which we are going, you might try expressive writing as another means of coping and acknowledging and coming to peace with your thoughts and feelings.

Take care and be

Mindfulness Monday – Being in the Present Moment

As we continue to shelter in place and the effects of the virus continue to ripple outward, we may experience higher levels of stress and an increasing potential for the people closest to us to be effected, either directly or indirectly by the virus. These circumstances could include becoming ill, a loved one dying, financial concerns, sleep problems, housing issues, lack of motivation and focus to do your job, your sport training, or your academic work, and even challenges in getting along with those with whom we are quarantining. As we discussed in a previous tip, if there are aspects of these circumstances that you can control, you can work on those things. But if there are not, then taking a mindful approach may help you not become emotionally and cognitively stuck.

Two weeks ago, we had you try an activity to bring into awareness just how many thoughts you have during short amounts of time. As you may have discovered, It's a lot of thoughts and feelings! And some of your thoughts and feelings – anxiety, fear, frustration, anger, guilt, shame, uncertainty - may make it particularly hard to be present and your best you.

As a reminder, and if you want to practice again, you can find that exercise here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J2Zyjn8Fxo

With this awareness of just how many thoughts you have (and what those thoughts and feelings may be about), this week we will focus on how to develop a more mindfully based way of being with your thoughts and feelings. This technique can help you be more present and engaged, which is beneficial in whatever you are doing. Developing a mindful relationship with your thoughts and feeling is not about controlling them (e.g., stopping or correcting them)…in mindfulness you accept that your thoughts and feelings are just with you and present all the time…they key is in how you relate to your thoughts and feelings when they enter your awareness. Do you “attach” to them, where they stick with you, weigh you down, and keep you from being in the present moment, or do you observe them, acknowledge their presence, and then let them go (in essence “detaching” from them). Like all aspects of mindfulness, learning how to develop this new relationship with your thoughts and feelings takes practice and time. To help you on your journey, we recommend the following:

In the Mindfulness Coach App: Do the module "Clouds in the Sky (1.0)"

On Youtube: Do "Leaves on a Stream" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1C8hwj5LXw

Take time each day to practice this perspective - how to detach from a thought or emotion – and you will develop a skill that will help you stay present, focused, and engaged in every moment you have.

Take care and be

Being Mindful of your Thoughts This exercise show you how busy your mind can be

Becoming Our Own Best Teammate

For some, the idea of self-compassion can seem a little odd…like a shoe that does not quite fit. But, when we work with athletes, we frame this idea from the perspective of becoming your own best teammate, which seems to fit perfectly.

Even if you have never played sports, you have likely been part of a work group, family, etc…someplace where you were interacting with others around a common goal or performance. Now, imagine a basketball game where a player makes a costly mistake, such as throwing the ball out of bounds when their team is down by 3 with only seconds remaining. With this situation in mind, answer the following questions:

1. What if YOU were that player…what would you be saying to yourself immediately after making that mistake? Be honest with yourself!
2. What if one of your TEAMMATES was that player…what would you be saying to them immediately after making that mistake?

Notice any differences in your responses? If you did, you are not alone. When we talk with athletes about a scenario like this one, we almost always hear the following: they would be really negative toward themselves and really positive (and uplifting) toward their teammate. Somehow we have learned that, when we make a mistake, we are supposed to get down on ourselves…almost like it’s expected!

So, we always ask, if being NEGATIVE is so helpful, then why not treat your teammate that way? In most cases, athletes tell us that being negative to a teammate would only bring them down more, it would not help them get past the error, and likely would contribute to them playing worse. Ah ha! So, how can we learn to be our own best teammate…we seem to know what’s best for them, but we somehow have a hard time treating ourselves in a similarly kind, compassionate, and helpful way.

The next time you find yourself beating yourself up over something…a mistake you’ve made, something you’ve forgotten, not being patient…ask yourself what you would say to a teammate (or friend) if they had done the same thing. THEN…say that to yourself J. Learning to be your own best teammate may take practice and time to develop, but you, and your performances, are worth it.

Take care and be

Finding Meaning Through Collective Loss and Grief

David Kessler is an expert on grief and dying and has applied his work to what we currently are going through. Kessler defines grief as “the death of something, a death of a loved one, a marriage, a relationship, a job loss” and believes that we are now experiencing a collective loss in our inability to have our everyday “normal.” We may have experienced:

- The loss of connection, handshakes, physical touch
- The loss of routine and normalcy
- The loss of work, sport, leisure
- The loss of gathering for worship, meals, events, joy

And these loses may leave us feeling heavy, sad, regretful, or just numb.

So, what may help when we are feeling these ways and having these experiences of loss? Here are some ideas drawn from David Kessler’s work:

- Identify your losses and name your experiences as grief. And, rather than comparing your losses to those of others, you can give yourself the space to experience and feel them.
- Be present for others as they experience their losses and grief. Being together and connected to others can help you find meaning in your experiences.
- Remember that there is no one (or right) way to grieve or experience loss…accept that others may be doing so differently than you, which can keep you connected to them.
- Find ‘Wins’ in your day to day life. For example, have you been able to go for a walk, despite your feelings of loss and thoughts of isolating? If so, that is a ‘Win.’
- Name the meaningful moments you have each day, such as a coach planning a team activity for their team to connect over video.
- Ask yourself: “What can I do that will be meaningful to me today?” Use your answer to guide what you choose to do each day.

To listen to David Kessler, you can access a full podcast at: https://brenebrown.com/podcast/david-kessler-and-brene-on-grief-and-finding-meaning/ . Or you can visit Dr. Kessler’s website for grief groups and resources: www.grief.com -

Take care and be

David Kessler and Brené on Grief and Finding Meaning | Brené Brown Grief expert David Kessler takes us by the hand and walks us into what he's learned about love, loss, and finding meaning. As someone who has a lot of fear about grief and grieving, this conversation is not what I expected. The only word I can use to describe what I learned from David is "beautiful....