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TrueSport Talks: Mental Wellness and Healthy Sport Families.

November 13, 2024 – Live from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum

REGISTER NOW!

Parents – Join TrueSport and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for a FREE virtual event as we explore mental wellness and the healthy sport family. Together, with athletes, coaches, experts, sports administrators, and youth sport families, we will address the unique mental health stressors facing sport families and chart an evidence-informed path forward with actionable takeaways for families.

RECORDED SESSIONS

2024 Event Schedule
2024 Speakers

Mental Wellness and Healthy Sport Families

Families play a pivotal role in shaping athletes’ attitudes, behaviors, and overall perception of mental well-being. By promoting open communication, resilience, and self-care strategies, sport families can mitigate the stressors inherent in competitive athletics while fostering positive mental attitudes. Moreover, prioritizing mental wellness and the connection to physical activity within sport families not only enhances athletes’ performance but also strengthens familial bonds, creating a supportive ecosystem where individuals feel valued, understood, and empowered to navigate challenges in sport and beyond. As national statistics and stories continue to unveil the scope of the national mental health crisis, sport must own its part in the problem, evolve to champion meaningful change, and implement proactive solutions that help families embrace and implement healthy mental wellness practices.

  • FREE to Attend…BECAUSE we believe access to sport opportunities should be available to all athletes and families.
  • Practical guidance from leading experts…BECAUSE we believe there are evidence-based practices to a positive sport experience.
  • Broadcasting live from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum…BECAUSE we believe in the values of the Olympic & Paralympic movement.
  • Join Team USA athletes to discuss mental wellness…BECAUSE athlete voices matter.

Event Schedule

COMING SOON

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2024

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. MT

Introduction
9:00 – 9:20 a.m. MT

Session 1 – NextGen Sports: Building a Sustainable Future for Tomorrow’s Athletes
Judi Brown Clarke, PhD, Tom Farrey, and Tony Snethen
9:20 – 10:20 a.m. MT
As our nation focuses on the safety, accessibility, and governance of youth sports, it’s crucial to adapt to modern challenges. How can families, athletes, and leaders come together to create a positive, engaging, and mentally healthy environment for young athletes? Join us to explore how we can protect the joy of sports and the mental health of our young people, all while ensuring that these experiences reinforce an environment where healthy competition and challenges strengthen the next generation.

Coffee Break

10:20 – 10:30 a.m. MT

Session 2 – Resilient Futures: Parenting for Mental Wellness Through Sport
Deborah Gilboa, MD, Trey Jenifer, PLY, Abby Raymond, and Todd Raymond
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. MT

Discover how to raise resilient athletes in this empowering session. We’ll explore key strategies for mental wellness and how you, as a parent, can help your child build resilience through their sports experiences. From handling setbacks to fostering a growth mindset, learn how small changes in your parenting can make a big difference in your child’s ability to overcome challenges. Join us for “Resilient Futures” and take a step toward equipping your child with the tools to thrive and grow stronger through adversity.

Lunch

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. MT

Session 3 – Tackling Today’s Challenges in Youth Sports
12:00 – 3:00 p.m. MT
Studies indicate a decline in sports participation, worsening health statistics, and rising mental health concerns among young people. Facilitated by leading experts, these sessions will offer practical steps to help families navigate these and other challenges experienced in the evolving sport landscape.

After a brief introduction, participants will engage in “practice makes progress” interactive workshops. Each workshop will focus on key skills that young athletes develop through sports, helping families use sports as a tool to protect and enhance their child’s health and well-being.

  • 12:10 – 1:00 p.m. ~ Workshop 1 | Emotionally Fit: Navigating Emotions for Better Mental Health and Sport Performance  – Kevin Chapman, PhD, and Abby Raymond – Sports bring out big emotions—thrilling wins, tough losses, and the grind of practice. These experiences are valuable opportunities for young athletes to develop social and emotional intelligence. But as parents, teaching emotional regulation can be tough. Join us to learn how families can harness the power of healthy emotional regulation, not just for overall well-being but also as a competitive edge in sports.
  • 1:05 – 1:55 p.m. ~ Workshop 2 | Beyond the Game: Boundaries, Balanced Identity, and Times of Transition in Sport – Jessica Bartley, PsyD, MSSW, LP, LCSW, CMPC and Charron Sumler, PhD, LPCC –  “Beyond the Game” is all about helping families create balanced identities and set healthy boundaries for young athletes. With the push toward early specialization, along with the influence of social media, navigating the world of youth sports can be challenging. This session will explore how to foster diverse interests, plan for the future beyond sports, and have the tough but necessary conversations to ensure that sports remain centered on values, character, and real-life connections. Spoiler Alert: A great sport experiences is not just about earning a college scholarship!
  • 2:00 – 2:55 p.m. ~ Workshop 3 | Fueling Success: Nurturing the Mind-Body Connection through Sport – Michele Labotz, MD, FAAP, and Stephanie Miezin, MS, RD, CSSD – The connection between physical and mental health is stronger than ever. Join us to discover how families can harness this mind-body link through sports to boost their child’s overall health, wellness, and performance. Learn practical strategies to nurture both aspects for a healthier, more successful athlete experience.

Session 4 – Rekindling Joy: Fun in Sport as Fundamental
Ian Goldberg, Jay Harrison, PhD, LCMHCA, NCC, and Amanda Stanec, PhD
3:00 – 3:50 p.m. MT
When joy is lost, sports lose their meaning for young athletes. As we wrap up the day, we’ll dive into an honest discussion about the need to redefine and improve the sports experience for our families. This session will focus on the importance of clearly defining the purpose of sports for kids and how families can better appreciate the value sports bring to a child’s overall development. Our panel of experts will share insights on how sport families can protect mental wellness, partner with their athletes, and bring fun back to the game.

Closing
Trey Jenifer, PLY
3:50 – 4:00 p.m. MT

Guest Speakers

Jessica Bartley headshot.

Jessica Bartley, PsyD, MSSW, LP, LCSW, CMPC

Sr. Director, Psychological Services, United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee

Kevin Chapman, PhD headshot.

Kevin Chapman, PhD

Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Founder Kentucky Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders

Judi Brown Clarke headshot.

Judi Brown Clarke, PhD

Vice Chair, Board of Directors,
U.S. Anti-Doping Agency

Tom Farrey headshot.

Tom Farrey

Executive Director, Sports & Society Program, The Aspen Institute

Dr. Deborah Gilboa headshot.

Deborah Gilboa, MD

Board-Certified Family Physician, Founder AskDoctorG.com

Ian Goldberg headshot.

Ian Goldberg

Founder and CEO, iSport360

Jay Harrison headshot.

Jay Harrison, PhD, LCMHCA, NCC

Founder, Work in Consulting and Counseling

Trey Jenifer headshot.

Trey Jenifer

Team USA Paralympian,
Wheelchair Basketball

Michele LaBotz headshot.

Michele LaBotz, MD, FAAP

Sports Medicine Physician, InterMed Sports Medicine Clinic

Stephanie Miezin headshot.

Stephanie Miezin, MS, RD, CSSD

Registered Dietitian, KC Current Director of Nutrition

Abby Raymond headshot.

Abby Raymond

USA National Team Member, Weightlifting

Todd Raymond headshot.

Todd Raymond

Sport Parent

Tony Snethen headshot.

Tony Snethen

Vice President of Brand Innovation and Agency lead of Pine Tar Collective, Kansas City Royals

Amanda Stanec headshot.

Amanda Stanec, PhD

Founder, MOVE+LIVE+LEARN

Charron Sumler headshot.

Charron Sumler, PhD, LPCC

Sport Psychotherapist, The Ohio State University, Department of Athletics

Academic Advisory Panel

As the conversation around mental health and wellness continues to garner national attention, TrueSport, the outreach education arm of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, seeks to take a deeper look into the challenges coaches, sport administrators, and families are facing with their student-athletes. In connection with the second TrueSport Talks Symposium, TrueSport has enlisted an academic panel to build out a practical, concise, and evidence-based recommendations report. This report will focus wholistically on athlete well-being and suggest a systems approach to help identify opportunities to decrease stigma and increase the overall health of developmental sport culture.

Jay Coakley headshot.

Jay Coakley, PHD

Professor Emeritus of Sociology, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

Eddie Comeaux headshot.

Eddie Comeaux, phd

Executive Director, Center for Athletes' Rights and Equity at UC Riverside

TrueSport Talks

Tomika Ferguson, phd

Assistant Dean and Assistant Professor, School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University

Jess Kirby, PhD headshot.

Jessica Kirby, phd

Associate Director, Center for Critical Sports Studies, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

Amanda Stanec headshot.

Amanda Stanec, phd

Founder, MOVE+LIVE+LEARN Youth Development Researcher & Writer

Previous Events

Testimonials from the 2023 TrueSport Talks.

TrueSport Talks 2023 testimonial, "Exceeded expectations. Presenters were knowledgeable, prepared, and coule make the material enjoyable. Most importantly, there were 'actionable' items in all sessions."
TrueSport Talks 2023 testimonial, "TrueSport's dedication and commitment to their educational initiative is obvious, and it was meaningful for the audience to be coaches this time around. As coaches, we need more reminders about mental wellness and this was the perfect venue to address these issues.
TrueSport Talks 2023 testimonial, "This was my 3rd year in attendance. Each year I have been able to take so much back to my programs, staff, and athletes. We are better because we attended."
2023 Event
2022 Event
2021 Event

Registration

Thank you to everyone who attended this year’s event!

Register by September 30 to receive a free copy of the TrueSport Mental Wellness lesson!

Coming soon!

REGISTER HERE
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With support from

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Jessica Bartley, PsyD, MSSW, LP, LCSW, CMPC

Jessica Bartley headshot.Jessica Bartley, PsyD, MSSW, LP, LCSW, CMPC
Sr. Director, Psychological Services, United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee

Joining the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) in 2020, Dr. Jess Bartley (she/her) is the senior director of psychological services. She is a licensed psychologist, clinical social worker and a certified mental performance consultant (CMPC®) with the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). She’s served on the executive board for Division 47 in the American Psychological Association (APA) in various roles and was elected President in 2023 of the division. She has also been a member of AASP, the Counseling/Clinical Sport Psychology Association (CCSPA), and the International Society for Sport Psychology (ISSP).

Dr. Bartley earned her bachelor’s degree in government and sociology as well as a master of science in social work from the University of Texas at Austin. She went on to complete a master of arts in sport and performance psychology as well as a doctorate in clinical psychology with an emphasis in sport and performance psychology and behavioral therapy at the University of Denver. After graduation, Dr. Bartley completed a fellowship at the Eating Disorder Center of Denver where she worked with colleagues to develop a treatment program for athletes with eating disorders. She has served collegiate student athletes’ mental health and performance needs at the University of Denver, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the Ohio State University. She has also been contracted as the sport psychologist with USA Karate and USA Track& Field, and provided mental health and performance psychology services to professional bull riding and the Colorado ballet.

Her areas of expertise include mental health with athletes, specifically depression, anxiety, eating disorders and body image, and substance use, as well as performance anxiety, motivation, and sport transition/retirement after sport. She has presented more than a hundred times at national and international conferences and has published more than two dozen journal articles and book chapters. Her theoretical orientation is rooted in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and she often utilizes tools from dialectical behavior therapy (DBT),cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and interpersonal process therapy (IPT) while infusing multiculturalism.

Dr. Bartley is licensed to provide services in California, Colorado, and New York as well as PSYPACT® states.

When she is not working, Dr. Bartley is spending time outdoors with her husband, her three young children, their Germadoodle – Herbie, and her mom. These outdoor activities often include hiking, biking, swimming, skiing, snowshoeing, and playing soccer. 

Kevin Chapman, PhD

Kevin Chapman, PhD headshot.Kevin Chapman, PhD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Founder
Kentucky Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders

Dr. Chapman is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, founder and director of the Kentucky Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (KYCARDS) where he specializes in the assessment and treatment of anxiety and related disorders. Dr. Chapman is a Diplomate and Certified by the Academy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (A-CBT), and is a internationally recognized expert in the implementation of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety and related disorders. Additionally, Dr. Chapman serves on the Editorial Board for the Oxford University Press Treatments That Work treatment series, which includes evidence-based treatment protocols for training mental health professionals and treatment workbooks to assist clients throughout treatment. Dr. Chapman is also known for his expertise as it relates to the intersection of multiculturalism and mental health. Similarly, Dr. Chapman has published numerous papers in scientific journals and has written several book chapters. Dr. Chapman is a Faculty member for the Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) for the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) and serves on its Clinical and Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Chapman serves on several Editorial Boards including the Journal of Anxiety Disorders and Clinical Child and Family Psychologist Review. Additionally, Dr. Chapman is a Media Psychologist and regularly contributes to and serves as a consultant for multiple media outlets including A&E and other production companies. Most recently, Dr. Chapman was the Program Expert on the hit series My Strange Addiction: Still Addicted as well as Seasons 1 and 2 of A&E’s hit show 60 Days In. Dr. Chapman has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, US News and World Report, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, NBC Health, Bloomberg Business Week, Men’s Health, and numerous other outlets including the Nick News documentary Worried Sick: Living with Anxiety, a feature on adolescent anxiety. Dr. Chapman previously served as an Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Chapman completed a BS in Psychology from Centre College, a MS in Clinical Psychology from Eastern Kentucky University, and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Louisville.

Professional Sports Background

Dr. Chapman also serves as a Mental Health Expert for TrueSport, a subsidiary for the United States Antidoping Agency (USADA) and is a recognized expert in sports performance and mental health, particularly in the areas of anxiety and emotion regulation in athletes. Dr. Chapman also serves as the Team Psychologist for the Louisville City Football Club (USL) and the Racing Louisville Football Club (NWSL) and regularly appears on numerous podcasts that highlight the necessity of mental skills in sports as well as navigating performance anxiety. Dr. Chapman previously served on the Performance Team for the University of Louisville Department of Athletics.  Dr. Chapman was a two-sport collegiate athlete (track and field, football) and was inducted into the Centre College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2020.

Judi Brown Clarke, PHD

Judi Brown Clarke headshot.Judi Brown Clarke, PhD
Vice Chair, Board of Directors
U.S. Anti-Doping Agency

Judi Brown Clarke is the Vice President of Equity & Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) for Stony Brook University and Health Systems in Long Island, New York. She is responsible for creating strategic frameworks for advancing high-performance diversity, equity and inclusion across the University’s academic, research and health units to foster sustainable change, promote the University’s core values, and transform the culture into inclusive belonginess.

Dr. Brown Clarke is the Chair of the Association of American Universities’ CDO Steering Committee, Chair of Nation Foundation on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, Senior Fellow in the Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative, a steering committee member for the Indigenous Geoscience Community.

She holds the following degrees: a bachelor’s in clinical audiology and speech sciences, a master’s in education-kinesiology, and a doctorate in public policy and administration. She serves as part of a system‐wide network of CDOs to support SUNY’s overall diversity goals.

Dr. Brown Clarke has experienced great athletic success. In the 400-meter hurdles event, she is a five-time national champion and silver medalist in the 1984 Olympic Games. She has also completed a term as Vice-President of the U.S. Olympians & Paralympians Association, was an International Women’s Forum: Women Athletes in Business Fellow, and Co-Chair of the Board Directors for USA Taekwondo.

Tom Farrey

Tom Farrey headshot.Tom Farrey
Executive Director, Sports & Society Program, The Aspen Institute

Tom founded and leads the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program, the mission of which is convene leaders, facilitate dialogue, and inspire solutions that can help sports serve the public interest. The program’s signature initiative is Project Play, which leverages the power of play to build healthy children and communities through sports.

Since 2013, Project Play has shaped the national conversation about youth and school sports, identifying gaps in access and quality through research and dialogue. Strategic frameworks for action have helped mobilize many organizations across sectors, and its Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports has been endorsed by more than 500 organizations, athletes, cities and states. Foundations, corporations, and governments have distributed more than $100 million in grants, and Project Play was cited by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services in the development of the National Youth Sports Strategy. A 2019 media campaign, #DontRETIREKid, won 37 international awards.

Tom came to Aspen from ESPN where his investigative reporting over two decades won many awards including Emmys and a 2014 Alfred I. duPont/Columbia University Award — ESPN’s first. Tom’s 2008 book, Game On: The All-American Race to Make Champions of Our Children, has been used by many universities. Then-New York Times columnist Robert Lipsyte called it the “Silent Spring of sports: the book that launches a movement to protect a natural resource. In this case, our children.” That movement became Project Play, now a community of more than 20,000 leaders.

Deborah Gilboa, MD

Dr. Deborah Gilboa headshot.Deborah Gilboa, MD
Board-Certified Family Physician
AskDoctorG.com

Resilience expert Deborah Gilboa, MD, aka “Dr. G” works with families, organizations, and businesses to identify the mindset and strategies to turn stress to an advantage. Renowned for her contagious humor, Dr. G works with groups across multiple generations, to rewire their attitudes and beliefs, and create resilience through personal accountability and a completely different approach to adversity. She is a leading media personality seen regularly on TODAY, Good Morning America and The Doctors. She is also featured frequently in the Washington Post, The New York Times, Authority Magazine, and countless other digital and print outlets.  Dr. G is board certified attending family physician and is fluent in American Sign Language. She lives in Pittsburgh with her four sons. 

Ian Goldberg

Ian Goldberg headshot.Ian Goldberg
Founder and CEO
iSport360

Ian Goldberg is the Founder and CEO of iSport360, a youth sports technology company that is changing the culture in youth sports for over 3.5M athletes, coaches and sports parents.   Ian’s career started at the White House where he worked for the economic advisors to two US Presidents and then spent more than half of his career in digital product management and sales for early-stage technology companies.  Outside of his role leading iSport360, Ian is an Advisory Board member for the National Alliance for Youth Sports and is the Editor of the biggest and fastest-growing newsletter in youth sports.  But most of all Ian loves his role as a #GirlDad and as a volunteer sports coach for his two daughters.

Jay Harrison, PhD, LCMHCA, NCC

Jay Harrison headshot.Jay Harrison, PhD, LCMHCA, NCC
Founder, Work in Consulting and Counseling

Dr. Jay Harrison is a former NHL hockey player and current licensed clinical mental health counselor in North Carolina. Dr. Harrison played 15 professional hockey seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, Winnipeg Jets, and Chicago Blackhawks organizations, while representing Canada multiple times in international play.

Always valuing his development off the ice, Dr. Harrison completed his BA in Psychology, and MS in Clinical Psychology while playing professionally. Rather than seeing education as a distraction to performance, Dr. Harrison ascribes his commitment to education while playing at an elite level as a performance enhancing investment and as a source of resilience. Upon transitioning from sport, Dr. Harrison completed his clinical residency in counseling, specializing in the treatment of PTSD and doctoral studies in Performance Psychology at Grand Canyon University.

In 2018, Dr. Harrison founded Work in Consulting Inc., a consulting company that provides services to several high-performance corporations, as well as military and paramilitary organizations aiding in mental health optimization and performance wellness. In sport, Dr. Harrison currently serves as the Wellness, Performance, and Transition Specialist to the NHLPA, as a mental health consultant to NASCAR, and a behavioral analytics consultant for the Miami Marlins. Outside of sport, Dr. Harrison serves as a Psychological Services Manager for the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and provides time-limited engagements with high performance corporations that emphasize leadership, performance, and well-being.

Dr. Harrison’s unique approach allows him to connect, understand, and communicate with clients in a way that honors their current experience while inspiring greater confidence, leadership, and commitment to achieving their fullest potential. His experience as an elite athlete and his current work with high performing professionals in sport and industry allows Dr. Harrison to contribute a distinctive perspective on mental health, well-being, and performance.

Dr. Harrison lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife, Jodean and four daughters and loves coaching youth softball.

Trey Jenifer, PLY

Trey Jenifer during a wheelchair basketball game.
Credit: Butch Ireland

Sport: Wheelchair Basketball

Hometown: Huntingtown, MD

Current Location: Virginia

Favorite TrueSport Values: Leadership, Accountability, Setting  Goals

Ambassadorship Goals: Encouraging the next generation of individuals and athletes to become better leaders for tomorrow while making changes to better society and sports as a whole.

Accomplishments in Sport:

-2024 Paralympic Gold Medalist – Wheelchair Basketball
-2020 Paralympic Gold Medalist – Wheelchair Basketball
-2016 Paralympic Gold Medalist – Wheelchair Basketball
-2012 Paralympic Bronze Medalist – Wheelchair Basketball
-2x All American Athlete at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
-Champion of France – Professional Wheelchair Basketball
-3rd in the State of Maryland Wrestling / Wrestling Hall of Fame 2006

Social Media: Instagram: @TreyJenifer | Facebook: @TrevonJenifer | X: @Trevon_Jenifer

Michele LaBotz, MD, FAAP

Michele LaBotz headshot.Michele LaBotz, MD, FAAP
Sports Medicine Physician
InterMed Sports Medicine Clinic

Michele LaBotz, MD, FAAP, is a sports medicine physician with experience caring for athletes at all levels of sport. She is particularly interested in the principles of nutrition and supplement use, injury prevention, physical literacy, and mental health in young athletes. LaBotz writes and speaks nationally on these topics and was the co-author of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) clinical report on use of performance-enhancing substances in young athletes. She previously served as policy coordinator for the AAP’s Executive Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness and now serves on the board of directors for the Maine Chapter of the AAP and for the Taylor Hooton Foundation.

After completing premedical training at the University of Michigan and University of California, Irvine, LaBotz graduated from Dartmouth Medical School. She trained in pediatrics at University of Wisconsin at Madison and Maine Medical Center, as well as in sports medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. LaBotz subsequently served as a team physician and helped establish the sports medicine fellowship at the University of Hawai’i. She and her family then returned to Maine, where she began a private practice career at InterMed’s sports medicine clinic in South Portland. 

LaBotz is one of the co-creators of Physical Literacy for All Youth in Maine (PLAY ME) which promotes physical literacy assessment and development in community and medical settings. 

LaBotz resides on Cousins Island in Yarmouth, Maine. Her husband recently retired from the golf profession and their daughter is a former competitive gymnast now attending college.

Stephanie Miezin, MS, RD, CSSD

Stephanie Miezin headshot.Stephanie Miezin, MS, RD, CSSD
Registered Dietitian
KC Current Director of Nutrition

Stephanie Miezin is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics with experience in both dietetics and culinary arts. She is passionate about improving the health and performance of athletes through nutrition education and by making performance fueling delicious and fun. She has a Bachelor’s in Culinary Nutrition from Johnson & Wales University and a Master’s in Medical Dietetics from Ohio State University. She has worked for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, helping fuel Team USA athletes at Olympic and Pan American Games and at the Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado. She has helped fuel athletes in the Tampa Bay Rays baseball organization, Ohio State University, and international soccer athletes. Stephanie has led organizational nutrition strategy and a team of dietitians as Director of Nutrition at the health and wellness resort company Canyon Ranch. She is currently the Director of Nutrition for the NWSL team, KC Current. Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys getting creative in the kitchen, making pottery, and outdoor adventures with her dog Coco.

Abby Raymond

Abby Raymond lifting weights.

Sport: Weightlifting

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Current Location: Illinois

Favorite TrueSport Values: Leadership, Bullying Prevention, Perseverance

Ambassadorship Goals: Throughout my athletic journey thus far, I’ve developed a motto: Strong-Kind-Different. I hope that by sharing my experiences, I can inspire other athletes to live life to the fullest by embracing these three words. Whether it’s in their sport or personal life, I want to help the next generation reach their goals and promote a positive sport experience.

Accomplishments in Sport:

  • 2023 Junior Pan Am Championships
  • 2022 Junior World Championships
  • 2x Youth National Champion
  • 16 Youth American Records
  • 2019 Youth World Championships & Junior World Championships

Social Media: Instagram: @_AbbyRaymond | X: @acr_0825

Todd Raymond

Todd Raymond headshot.Todd Raymond
Sport Parent

For over three decades, Todd Raymond has been a fixture at Lake Park High School in Roselle, IL, where he wore many hats as the Dean of Students, Assistant Athletic Director, and Head Wrestling Coach from 1991 to his retirement in 2024. A proud graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, where he earned his BA in Education (specializing in Physical Education, Health, and Driver’s Ed), Todd went on to hone his leadership skills with a Master’s in Administration and Supervision from Roosevelt University. When he’s not cheering on students, he’s cheering on his daughters: Abby Raymond, a Team USA weightlifter, and Emma Raymond, a cheer and dance athlete. Whether on the wrestling mat or in the stands, Todd has always been about strength, spirit, and supporting others in the pursuit of greatness.

Tony Snethen

Tony Snethen
Vice President of Brand Innovation and Agency lead of Pine Tar Collective
Kansas City Royals

Tony Snethen headshot.Tony Snethen joined the Royals in June 2021 as the Vice President of Brand Innovation and Agency lead of Pine Tar Collective, following a 17-year run with VMLYR as the Executive Creative Director. He has been recognized globally for award-winning work on brands such as Gatorade, Dicks Sporting Goods, Pepsi, Red Bull, among many others.

With the Royals, Snethen oversees Pine Tar Collective, a diverse creative team with cross channel experience that engages with consumers while delivering on the brand and partnership objectives. Given his 25 years in the industry developing, delivering and being recognized for his innovative approach, he is a players’ coach as it relates to motivating and inspiring his team to deliver the best work possible.

Tony’s success comes from his ability to bring both a high level of inspirational and strategic thinking while being pragmatic in respect to user behavior and partners business needs. Beyond driving towards award winning creative, Tony is a strong leader in business development, managing senior client relationships, and community driven relationships.

The Pine Tar Collective department was created in 2021 with the mission of innovating the ways in which the Royals attract, engage and inspire fans, partners and the community.

Amanda Stanec, PhD

Amanda Stanec headshot.Amanda Stanec, PhD
Founder, MOVE+LIVE+LEARN
Youth Development Researcher & Writer

Dr. Amanda Stanec was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada where she attended and played soccer for St. Francis Xavier University. 

Upon moving to the US, she attended Virginia Commonwealth University where she attained a Masters of Science with an emphasis in Physical Education and Sport Psychology. Completely devoted to her field, she enrolled in a PhD program in Kinesiology within the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia where she was recognized as the outstanding doctoral student in her graduating year. Amanda was honored as the 2016 young alumna of the year by St. Francis Xavier University.

Further achievements include the publication of more than twenty articles as well as co-authoring several book chapters related to physical education, sport, health, and wellness topics. She has served on the Board of Directors for Physical and Health Education (PHE) Canada and is well-respected for her contributions as Lead Writer for provincial wide physical education curriculum, university kinesiology and teacher education courses, and youth sport leadership and positive youth development programs. Most recently, Amanda has led projects on behalf of the International Olympic Committee, the Association of the Summer Olympic International Federations, Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, United World Wrestling, NFL Play 60, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and PHE Canada. She continues to travel extensively to educate and inspire through her relatable and humorous keynote presentations.

Charron Sumler

Charron Sumler headshot.Charron Sumler
Athletic Counselor, The Ohio State University Athletics

Charron has worked as an athletic counselor at The Ohio State University Athletics since 2019. In addition to providing individual/team clinical services and coach/staff consultation in athletics, as assistant director Charron oversees the daily clinical operations of the sport psychology team. Charron previously worked at the University of Texas, where she coordinated services and resources for university students in crisis situations. Charron is passionate about creating sport cultures that are safe for all athletes and ensuring that marginalized student athletes have a voice. Charron played four years of collegiate basketball and specializes in multicultural counseling, trauma, anxiety and depression. She has 10 years of counseling, leadership and case management experience and is currently completing a PhD in Counselor Education from The Ohio State University. 

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Jay Coakley, PhD

Jay Coakley headshot.Jay Coakley, PhD
Professor Emeritus of Sociology, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

Jay Coakley is Professor Emeritus of sociology at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. He was the founding editor of the Sociology of Sport Journal and is an internationally respected scholar. His textbook, Sports in Society: Issues and Controversies (13th edition, 2021), along with multiple adaptations and translations, is used in universities worldwide. He co-edited Inside Sports with Peter Donnelly and the Handbook of Sports Studies with Eric Dunning. He continues to do research and consulting focused primarily on making sports more democratic and humane for people of all ages and abilities.

Eddie Comeaux, PhD

Eddie Comeaux headshot.Eddie Comeaux, PhD
Executive Director, Center for Athletes’ Rights and Equity at UC Riverside

Dr. Eddie Comeaux is a professor and founding executive director of the Center for Athletes’ Rights and Equity (CARE) at UC Riverside, where racial equity and policy issues in higher education are central to his work. Comeaux has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and other academic publications and reports. He has also published five books, including: College Athletes’ Rights and Well-Being: Critical Perspectives on Policy and Practice (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2017), and has consulted with a variety of for-profit and non-profit organizations on equity and diversity strategies. Comeaux’s work has been featured or quoted in the Wall Street Journal, NPR, HuffPost, Forbes, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, Diverse Issues in Higher Education, and many other outlets. For his scholarly work, in April 2019, he received the Outstanding Contribution Award from AERA’s Research Focus on Education and Sport Special Interest Group (SIG). The year prior, in April 2018, he received the Dr. Carlos J. Vallejo Memorial Award for Exemplary Scholarship from AERA’s Multicultural/Multiethnic Education SIG. Prior to earning his Ph.D., he was drafted out of the University of California, Berkeley in the amateur free draft by the Texas Rangers baseball organization– and spent four years playing professionally.

Tomika Ferguson, PhD

Tomika Ferguson headshot.Tomika Ferguson, PhD
Assistant Dean and Assistant Professor, School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University

Dr. Tomika Ferguson is the assistant dean for student affairs and inclusive excellence and an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership in the School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Ferguson’s research centers on the intersection of race, gender, sport, and educational equity. Additionally, she explores the influence of equity-minded practice within the professional development of educational and sports leaders.

Her work has been published or featured in the Journal of College Student Development, College Student Affairs Journal, Journal of Research in Leadership Education, and Diverse Issues in Higher Education. Dr. Ferguson is the founder of the Black Athlete Sister Circle (BASC), a holistic development program for Black women student-athletes in higher education institutions. She has professional experience in college access, enrollment management, student affairs, and community engagement. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia, and her master’s and doctoral degrees from Indiana University – Bloomington.

Jess Kirby, PhD

Jess Kirby, PhD headshot.Jess Kirby, PhD
Associate Director, Center for Critical Sports Studies, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

Dr. Kirby is a Colorado native that enjoys staying active with her husband and two daughters. She received her Master’s degree in Health Promotion from UCCS, and her PhD in Sport and Exercise Science with an emphasis in Social Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity from the University of Northern Colorado. As an assistant professor at UCCS, Dr. Kirby teaches the psychosocial and behavioral aspects of sport, health, and wellness to include Sport Psychology and Health Behavior Theory for undergraduate and graduate students. Dr. Kirby’s research focuses on exploring the sport and physical activity experiences of individuals across the lifespan, as well as the impact of social connection and peer relationships on psychological well-being in sport and physical activity settings. Dr. Kirby currently serves as Assistant Director for the Center for Critical Sport Studies and is the project director for the new Mountain Lion Strong program funded by the NCAA Innovations in Research and Practice grant. Mountain Lion Strong is a comprehensive psychoeducation program being developed for student-athletes at UCCS to support student-athlete well-being, resilience, and mental health.

Goal-Setting Lesson Video Transcript

Hi. I’m Trevon, Trey, Jennifer. Team USA wheelchair basketball player, paralympian, and true sport athlete. Today, I want to talk to you about goal setting. And there are three things that I would like you to know. First, successful athletes set goals and a planned roadmap. Second, goals should be written down, assessed over time, and changed if necessary. And third, goals need to be challenging in order to be worthwhile. As a freshmen at Edinboro University, I was a part of a team that made the national championship game. And at that time I recognized I was the low man on the totem pole, but I felt in my heart that I knew my dreams were so much bigger than winning a national title. I wanted to make Team USA. I knew what achieving my lofty goal was not going to be easy and that I would need to work hard every day.

So, as a reminder, I created a pyramid of goals that I kept right above my bed. This pyramid reminded me of the accomplishments that I was working towards and visually represented my need to create a solid foundation underneath me before reaching the top. In the bottom roll of my pyramid of goals I listed goals such as obtaining my bachelor’s degree, becoming a scholar athlete award recipient, and becoming an All-American. The middle row listed winning a national title and playing for a professional team. And at the top row, the most challenging of them all, I listed becoming a gold medalist for Team USA.

By understanding that there are smaller stepping stones to achieving my ultimate goal of being on Team USA, I was able to stay motivated and to stay focused on completing the smaller stepping stones fully before moving onto the next one. Now I’ll be the first to admit that not every goal that I listed on my pyramid was accomplished, but seeing my goals every day when I went to bed, I was able to push through the days that I felt like doing nothing in hopes of achieving the bigger picture. Remember, create a clear goal roadmap, assess your goals often, and continue to challenge yourself. I hope that you never stopped dreaming big or reaching for the stars. And I look forward to seeing where your roadmap takes you.

Body Image Lesson Video Transcript

Hi, I’m Kara Winger, Olympic javelin thrower, and true sport athlete. Today I want to talk to you about body image and I have three things I’d like you to know. First, healthy thoughts often lead to healthier bodies. Second, there are varying body types and no one’s body is exactly like another. And third, true beauty goes deeper than the skin. As a multi-time Olympian, I’ve experienced a lot of variation and progression in my training. My coaches and I adapt to my training frequently, all with the goal of supporting my long-term success and health in the sport of javelin. I’m talking to you about body image today because sometimes even with the best of intentions and a common goal in mind, the changes you make to your training habits can prove to be detrimental if made for the wrong reasons. In the lead up to the 2012 Olympic trials, I was told in order to improve my performance on the field, I should try to become a leaner, skinnier version of myself.

So I changed my diet. I went along with what I was being told to do, even though I’d had great success at a slightly heavier weight and higher body fat percentage, and became much leaner than ever before. It seemed like a successful change at first, but I didn’t have nearly the results I’d had before. And I believe becoming leaner than my body naturally wanted to be was what caused my ACL to tear. In the end, it cost me heavily going into the 2012 London games. The takeaway for me, and hopefully for you, is that it’s important to know what works for you and your body and to not compare yourself to others. You should do your research and experiment with your diet to find what makes you feel the best, rather than focusing on what you look like. Today, if I feel like having a chocolate chip cookie, I have one, just not every day.

I’ve learned what a properly balanced meal for my body looks like and I recognize food as the fuel that keeps me throwing. I hydrate and allow myself time to recover. And I listen to and communicate with my body so that I can be the best version of myself. In the end, you are in control of how you see, treat, and respond to your body. We only get one and it’s amazing to discover how many things our bodies can do. Be a true sport athlete. Love who you are in this moment and get excited for all the places your body will take you.

A Good Sport Lesson Video Transcript

Hi, I’m Izy Isaksen, Team USA, Modern Pentathlon, Olympian, US Army Sergeant, and True Sport Ambassador. Today, I want to talk to you about being a good sport. There are three things I’d like you to know. First, real winners act the same toward their opponent, whether they win or lose. Second, follow the rules and be a gracious winner and respectful loser. And third, sportsmanship reveals your true character.

I started competing in Modern Pentathlon eight years after my older sister and three-time Olympian, Margaux Isaksen, began competing. I soon realized that people often compared the two of us. I would overhear spectators and teammates asking, “Who’s the better athlete,” and “Who’s going to beat the other.” Instead of letting outside pressures create a negative experience for us, I chose to practice winning and losing with grace and respect. I know that it would have been easy to let our hyper competitive mindset affect our relationship, but instead we decided to support and cheer for each other, regardless of our own performance. My experience of competing against and being compared to my older sister, taught me to focus on how to perform at my best, rather than putting wasted energy into wishing for others to fail.

I believe that sportsmanship reveals true character. So, no matter what situation I encounter during competition, I know it’s important to always treat people with respect and be a good sport. Remember, be a fierce competitor, find grace in all your victories and losses. And I hope to see you out there.

What Kind of Coach Do You Want to Be? Video Transcript

Edwin Moses: You’re a coach. Maybe what you want is very simple, for everyone to just run in the right direction, score for their own team, to try and try again and again. Maybe you want your athletes to become all stars. You want them to earn trophies, medals, win titles. You want them to reach the highest height their sport allows. And wanting all of that, of course, that’s good. But as every great coach discovers, developing a great athlete means nurturing, nurturing the even greater person within. Truth is, you have even more influence than you know.

You have the ability to affect even deeper change, to take what’s in your hands and do something even more extraordinary. You can be both the coach who provides the skills needed to win the game and the coach who helps them learn and succeed beyond the sport, to become all stars wherever they land in the future, and to enjoy their lives more now, because the confidence and courage they find working with you will stay with them when they need it the most. There are games to be won, lives to change. Coaches have the power to do both.

I’m Edwin Moses, and the lessons I’ve learned through sport have challenged me, guided me, and shaped my life forever. What kind of coach do you want to be?

THE SIMPLE TRUTH: DECODING THE SUPPLEMENT INDUSTRY VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

At first glance, dietary supplements look the same. They seem safe and healthy, but just because the label says a product is a dietary supplement, that doesn’t mean it’s safe. Unfortunately, you can’t tell whether a product is safe or not just by looking at the label. Most vitamins, minerals, fish oil, and other supplements containing nutrients are probably just fine, but supplements are not evaluated or approved by FDA before they are sold. Although it is rare for vitamins or minerals to be contaminated with drugs, there has been at least one case of a vitamin containing an anabolic steroid.

At the other extreme are products that contain drugs, stimulants, anabolic steroids, or other hormones. Even though these are not technically dietary supplements, many of them are labeled as supplements. For example, body-building products sometimes contain anabolic steroids or Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators, known as SARMs, or other hormones. Some pre-workout or energy products contain illegal stimulants like DMAA, ephedra, or other amphetamine-like stimulants. Weight loss products might contain prescription drugs like sibutramine, or hormones, like human chorionic gonadotropin, also known as hCG. All natural or herbal sexual enhancement products might contain hormones or Viagra-like drugs. Products like these can harm your health and career, but they’re for sale online, in some nutrition stores, and they’re labeled as dietary supplements.

When you pick up a supplement, especially one that promises performance enhancement, you don’t know if it belongs in the “Mostly O.K.” pile or in the “Dangerous” pile. After all, two products might look the same, but one might contain just amino acids and other legitimate ingredients, while the other also contains anabolic steroids. Because of this, FDA has issued a warning about certain categories of supplements: body building products, weight loss products, and sexual enhancement products. Be extremely careful when considering a supplement in one of these categories. We strongly recommend that you avoid products in these categories.

Even when FDA tests supplements and finds dangerous ingredients, companies sometimes refuse to recall them. Sometimes, they simply repackage their product and continue selling it under a new name. Just because a product is on a store shelf doesn’t mean it is safe. You need to do your research and be an informed consumer. The dietary supplement industry is enormous. Supplements that appear to be safe could actually be dangerous products in disguise. If you use dietary supplements without doing your research, you may be taking serious risks with your health and your career. Please visit USADA’s Supplement 411 for more information about dietary supplements.