The Power of Support: Creating a Positive Team Culture for Student Athletes and Coaches

By Dorothy Wolf | IG: @drw80

After over a decade of volunteering and coaching lacrosse, from elementary to high school levels, I've witnessed firsthand how mental struggles can impact student athletes' passion, drive, and self-worth. Unfortunately, I've also seen a lack of mental support and resources available to help them overcome these challenges. As a coach and parent of multiple players, I've had a unique perspective on how many young student athletes struggle beyond the practices and games, and how most teams and coaches are not equipped with the resources and support to help them.

Mental health is crucial for coaches to prioritize, not only for their players' well-being but also for their performance and team dynamics. We, as coaches, play a vital role in creating a safe and supportive environment, protecting our players. Mental health should be a top priority for coaches, essential for our players' well-being, performance, and team dynamics. As coaches, we play a vital role in fostering a safe and supportive environment, shielding our players from harmful influences like emotional shaming from parents or aggressive feedback from coaches. Many student-athletes face unrealistic expectations, feeling pressured to perform while being unheard. Moreover, the sidelines and social media can expose them to inappropriate behavior from opposing spectators and teams and verbal abuse from adults on both sides of the field. By prioritizing mental health, we can create a positive and empowering experience for our players.

I've seen instances where players have come off the sidelines, visibly upset, due to opposing coaches' aggressive behavior, such as yelling accusatory comments. It's jarring for high school athletes to be yelled at by adults on the sidelines when they're just trying to do their job on the field. We can protect our players on both sides without using accusatory language and tone. No athlete is on the field to purposely hurt anyone. 

I've also witnessed how a passive-aggressive coach can impact a student athlete's confidence. For instance, an underclassman on varsity was given a chance to prove herself during a game, but when she dropped a pass, she was removed from the game without explanation and didn't get another chance to play. As a result, her self-worth plummeted, and she became preoccupied with fear of making mistakes due to the lack of constructive feedback and playing time.

A positive team culture can lead to uplifting experiences and like any human being, coaches also make mistakes and have set backs.

We need to support players in setting realistic goals and celebrating achievements, and encourage them to prioritize their mental well-being and feelings.

Our job is to create safe space for our players to process their feelings without fear of judgment or criticism while also helping them reach their potential. By prioritizing mental health and well-being, coaches can help their players develop resilience, confidence, and a positive mindset, leading to a more enjoyable and successful experience for everyone involved.

I have learned that by being advocates for our teams and fostering open communication and trust will encourage players to express their feelings and concerns.  For the last two seasons we have provided resources and support for mental health issues that promote positive self-talk, self-care, self-compassion, model healthy behavior and boundaries, and create a positive team culture focusing on effort, progress, and enjoyment over wins and losses. 

However, coaches also face significant mental health challenges due to the immense responsibility and pressure that comes with their role. Some common struggles coaches experience can include high expectations, pressure to win, long hours, player conflicts and drama, parental pressure and criticism, lack of support, and balancing coaching and personal life. These pressures can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, burnout and exhaustion, strained relationships with players, parents, and colleagues.

As someone who has struggled with burnout and anxiety from coaching during the in-season while balancing being a mom of three, working full-time, managing my own self-care, and coaching, I understand the importance of prioritizing mental health. This experience has given me a better understanding of what my athletes go through and has made me a better advocate for them and myself.

It's essential for coaches to prioritize their own mental health and seek support from colleagues, mentors, or mental health professionals to manage these pressures and maintain a healthy work-life balance. By acknowledging and addressing these challenges, coaches can better support their players' mental health while also taking care of their own well-being.

As a Morgan's Message At-large Ambassador and a mother of a Student Ambassador, I aim to spread awareness about mental health within the student athlete community. By leading by example, demonstrating healthy habits and self-care practices, and being open and honest about my own mental health struggles, we can create a positive and supportive team culture that prioritizes well-being and fosters a love for the game. By prioritizing mental health and leading by example, we can help our players develop into confident, resilient, and successful individuals both on and off the field.