Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Sometimes We Forget It’s Just a Game

Today's blog post was guest- written by Bill Matthews, MA, LPC. Bill is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Play Like a Champion Consultant in Detroit, Michigan. Bill is a frequent speaker at the Play Like a Champion Leadership conference, and specializes in youth and family therapy, with an interest in sports psychology.

Even before the crowd of over 111,000 had left the stadium, the internet was exploding with words of malice towards University of Michigan punter Blake O’Neil. O’Neill fumbled a low snap from center with 10 seconds left in the game, and the University of Michigan leading Michigan State by two points. He then botched the punt, which was grabbed by a little-known Spartan, and returned for the game-winning touchdown as the clock ran out. Mean-spirited comments such as “The entire state of Michigan hates you,” and “Go to the equipment room and start chugging that bleach my friend,” were penned by, angry fans.

When discussing the play in his post-game press conference, O’Neill’s coach simply said, "Mistakes were made on that field...very unfortunate circumstances." Fortunately, his teammates had his back. "We support Blake through everything. that's the kind of team we're going to be," one teammate was quoted as saying. But that “team first” philosophy isn’t universal. An incident like this may seem rare, but this kind of vicious social media backlash aimed at athletes of all ages is becoming more common. Such actions have become tolerated and some would even justify the behavior as a “right” protected by free speech.

Bullying is defined as repeated aggressive behavior that can be physical, verbal, or relational. It is a serious problem that has harmful effects on both the victim and the bully. Studies have shown that boys frequently bully using physical threats and actions, while girls are more likely to engage in relational bullying, which includes exclusion or spreading rumors about the person. Adults sometimes try to explain bullying away as “harmless hazing”, or “typical kid stuff”, but it is not. Mental health experts tell us that the scars inflicted by bullying can persist long into the future and can predispose a young person to develop psychological problems in adulthood. 32% of students ages 12-18 report being bullied. Victims of cyber-bullying have a higher rate of depression than victims of face-to-face bullying, and victims of bullying are at 4-5 times greater risk for psychiatric disorders as adults.


If we are to have any chance to put a stop to bullying in sports and elsewhere, parents need to discuss bullying with their children. There should be open lines of communication in order to find out if anyone is treating any child on the team badly. If necessary, parents and coaches should take steps to stop the abuse. Simply talking about the problem can be a huge stress reliever for a child who is being bullied. If a parent discovers that their child is the one bullying others, make sure he or she understands how hurtful such behavior can be. Parents can foster empathy by encouraging their child to look at their actions from the victim’s perspective. Coaches should put an emphasis on team-building and creating a “family” atmosphere. This can reduce the chances that bullying will occur and create a cohesive team experience that will benefit everyone. Most importantly, whether you’re a coach, parent, official, administrator, or fan in the stands, if you witness bullying or hazing in the sport setting, say something about it. Arrange a conference with the coach to communicate what you’ve seen or heard about and ask the coach to take measures to stop the abuse. Try talking with the offending fan and let them know their behavior is unacceptable. Establish a code of conduct for player and fan behavior. In kids’ eyes when adults say and doing nothing to stop inappropriate behavior, it’s another way of saying that the offending behavior is acceptable.

In 2013, Miami Dolphins offensive lineman, Jonathan Martin walked away from the team after repeated harassment from teammates Richie Incognito, Mike Pouncey, and John Jerry. Although we don’t like to think about it, bullying isn’t relegated to the stands or social media comments only. If bullying by teammates can cause a 6’5”, 312 lb NFL lineman to walk away from his team and his sport, what impact do you think it can have on an 8-to-12 year old Little Leaguer? A middle school basketball player, track/cross country runner or cheer leader? A high school soccer or lacrosse player or swimmer?

For more information on stopping bullying visit:

Any opinions or advice represented in this article are those of the author, and not necessarily those of Play Like a Champion Today.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Teammates

Today's blog was written by Erin Geraghty. Erin is a senior psychology major at Notre Dame and a student in the Social Foundations of Coaching, a course taught by Play Like a Champion Founding Director Clark Power and Program Director Kristin Sheehan.

Teams are a great model for the communities we will be a part of and the relationships we will form throughout our life. Teams highlight the importance of cooperation and hard work, and show us how to foster strong relationships and support networks. As a freshman on my high schools varsity cross country team, I spent very little time running with my classmates. Instead, I found myself spending hours running and talking with older girls. At first, I was skeptical about being away from people my own age and I felt out-of-place, but a few girls in particular took me under their wings, made me feel welcomed, and taught me a lot.
 

The individuals who I found myself spending hours every day with became so much more than just my teammates. They allowed me be who I was and they affirmed that person. This loving and supportive community made me feel comfortable and allowed me to grow in confidence, as well as in my understanding of what true friendship and leadership looks like. They led me by example and made me feel like a part of a rare and wonderful tight-knit community. We shared our successes and disappointments and our ups and downs daily.

Far too many tragedies rocked my high school community during my time there, namely the death of four students by suicide. After another friend was taken from us far too early, I wanted to grab my running shoes and an iPod and just run by myself until I physically couldnt anymore. I just wanted to run away from all the hurt, all the mess, all the problems. However, looking at my teammates, I knew it was my time to step up, to assume the caring position my friends had held for me in previous years and amidst similarly trying times, and to live up to what it meant to be a captain. So instead of driving home that day, I headed to practice to be with my teammates. We talked when we wanted to, we cried when we needed to, we sprinted up hills and screamed on the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean, trying to get it all out. It didnt really matter what we did, it just mattered that we did it together.


all pictures courtesy of Erin Geraghty
My days of running on a formal team are over, but I still feel as the presence of my teammates when I run. I will always carry with me the lessons and values they taught me. When I feel overwhelmed or helpless, I drop everything, lace up my running shoes, and head out. Forest Gump wisely stated Now, it used to be I ran to get where I was going. I never thought it would take me anywhere. I couldnt agree more. I started running with the hopes that I might make a few friends and get in shape for lacrosse, but I didnt know that running would become an outlet for me, that it could renew me in a way that not much else can, and that it would teach me how to act as a teammate to friends, family, and all those I encounter throughout my life.