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TrueSport Talks: Mental Wellness and the Modern Coach.

Mental Wellness & The Student Athlete

Today’s coaches often feel they face mounting pressures to be all things to all people, produce sustained competitive results, and meet the needs of families, administrators, and most importantly, athletes. These unrealistic expectations placed on a single individual continue to escalate mental wellness challenges for those on the front lines who are leading and inspiring our next generation of great athletes. 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 allow coaches to prioritize themselves to better serve others.

Join TrueSport and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for a virtual event as we explore mental wellness and the modern coach. Together, with coaches, experts, and sports administrators, we will address the unique mental health stressors facing coaches and chart an evidence-informed path forward with actionable takeaways for sport influencers.

Recorded Sessions

Transcripts are coming soon.

Session 1 and 2 | Why Coach Mental Health Matters: Prioritizing Self to Best Serve Others

Session 3 | Effective Communication that Keeps Mental Wellness in Mind

Click to view the Presentation Slide Deck

Session 4 | The Oxygen Mask Effect: Taking Care of Self to More Effectively Advance Others

Click to view the “Emotional Regulation for Coaches” slide deck

Click to view the “Making Self-Care Practical is Possible” slide deck

Click to view the “Making Self-Care Practical is Possible” handout

Click to view the “Boundaries and Balanced Identities” handout

Click to view the “Balanced Identities” handout

Session 5 | Closing Remarks

Event Schedule
Guest Speakers
2022 Testimonials
2022 Event
2021 Event

Event Schedule

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2023

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Welcome
9:00 – 9:15 a.m.

Session 1 – Why Coach Mental Health Matters: Prioritizing Self to Best Serve Others
9:15 – 9:35 a.m.
Speaker: Jay Harrison, PhD, LCMHCA, NCC
Today’s modern coach often feels they face mounting pressures to be all things to all people. Not only are they expected to produce sustained competitive results but also to meet the needs of many stakeholders including families, sport system administrators, and most importantly, athletes. These unrealistic expectations placed on a single individual continue to escalate mental wellness challenges for those on the front lines, leading and inspiring our next generation of great athletes.  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 allow coaches to prioritize themselves to better serve others.

Session 2 – Coaching Well: How Do I “Coach Hard” and Take Care of Self and Athlete Well-Being
9:40 – 10:35 a.m.
Moderator: Charron Sumler, LPCC
Speakers: Joe Delagrave, PLY, Lesley Irvine, Geoff Kelly, Jim Miller

What does it look like to “coach hard” for sustained performance success and to also be aware and take care of self and athlete wellbeing? Is this possible? Coaches are increasingly facing mounting pressures to be all things to all people. Join us for a candid conversation that will highlight coach voice and experience front and center. Their challenges, their voices, their words.

Coffee Break

10:35 – 10:45 a.m.

Session 3 – Effective Communication that Keeps Mental Wellness in Mind
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Speaker: Alex Cohen, PhD, CMPC
Coaches are regularly required to lead in challenging situations. The cumulative effect of the communication of difficult information serves to undermine the sense of mental well-being for many coaches. From navigating individual and community crises to facilitating difficult conversations about a host of topics, coaches need training to support their role as a master communicator to help relieve this source of stress.

Lunch

12:00 – 12:35 p.m.

Session 4  – The Oxygen Mask Effect: Taking Care of Self to More Effectively Advance Others

12:40 – 2:40 p.m.
Coaches, regardless of the level they coach, are experiencing similar shared stressors across all levels of coaching from playground to podium. This session will address the unique mental health stressors facing coaches of all levels and offer some insightful education and resources from experts in the field diving into practical steps to support coach wellbeing. Following the session introduction, coaches will dive into interactive “practice makes progress” sessions designed to respond to the roundtable discussions through an interactive rotation of focused immersion with qualified experts.  From learning how to identify and set healthy boundaries to practical strategies for prioritizing their own personal mental wellness, the outcomes of this session are strategically developed so coaches at any level can experience and activate practical mental wellness tools and walk away feeling confident in their ability to prioritize self so they can better serve others.

  • Station 1: Mental Health and Emotional Regulation – Speaker: Kevin Chapman, PhD – Emotions serve an adaptive purpose when understood in a healthy context. Explore the importance of managing and regulating emotions as coaches navigate the stresses of preparation and competition. 
  • Station 2: Boundaries and Balanced Identity – Speakers: Jessica Bartley, PsyD, MSSW, LP, LCSW, CMPC and Melissa Streno, PsyD –  The evolution of a coach’s job description has created an “all things to all people” mentality for many coaches. Identifying ways to set healthy boundaries that maintain a coach’s identity as a healthy individual and that recalibrate the discussion to recognize that coach mental well-being is not a luxury, but rather a necessary part of a successful career. 
  • Station 3: Making Self-Care Practical is Possible – Speakers: Adam Feit, PhD, CSCS, RSCC*D, SCCC, CMPC and Stephanie Miezin, MS, RD, CSSD – Nutrition, physical health, movement, and mindfulness all play a part in a coach’s mental wellness toolkit. Coaches often find juggling these aspects of self-care difficult while fulfilling their many coaching responsibilities and devoting themselves to these very same issues for their athletes. This rotation provides pragmatic insights for coaches to employ to care for both self and others, creating balance and a better baseline for both physical and mental health.

Closing
2:40 – 3:00 p.m.

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

Alex Cohen headshot.

Alexander Cohen, PhD, CMPC

Senior Sport Psychological Services Provider,
United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee

Joe Delagrave headshot.

Joe delagrave, PLY

2x Paralympic Medalist - Wheelchair Rugby; USA Wheelchair Rugby Head Coach

TrueSport Talks

Adam Feit, PhD, CSCS, RSCC*D, SCCC, CMPC

Assistant Professor of Exercise Science & Fieldwork Coordinator, Springfield College

Jay Harrison headshot.

Jay Harrison, PhD, LCMHCA, NCC

Founder, Work in Consulting and Counseling

Lesley Irvine headshot.

Lesley Irvine

Vice President and Director of Athletics, Colorado College

Geoff Kelly headshot.

GEOFF KELLY

Mesa Ridge High School Basketball Coach

Stephanie Miezin headshot.

Stephanie Miezin, MS, RD, CSSD

Registered Dietitian, Director of Nutrition at Canyon Ranch

Jim Miller headshot.

Jim Miller

Chief of Sport Performance, USA Cycling

Melissa Streno headshot.

melissa streno, psyd

Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Lantern Psychology

TrueSport Talks

charron sumler, lpcc

Athletic Counselor, The Ohio State University Athletics

Kara Winger headshot.

Kara Winger, OLY

Track & Field - Javelin

Corey Robinson headshot.

Corey Robinson

Emcee; NBC Sports Host & Reporter; Division I Football, Notre Dame

Cailin Bracken headshot.

Cailin Bracken

Division I Lacrosse,
Vanderbilt University

Dr. Kevin Chapman headshot.

Kevin Chapman, PhD

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

Dr. Deborah Gilboa headshot.

Deborah Gilboa, MD

Board-Certified Family Physician, Founder AskDoctorG.com

Erin Haugen headshot.

Erin Haugen, Phd, lp, cmpc

Director, Mental Health and Performance Psychology
University of North Dakota

Geoff Kelly headshot.

Geoff Kelly

Division II Basketball, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

Jess Kirby, PhD headshot.

Jess Kirby, phd

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

Michael Kreuger headshot.

Michael Krueger

Commissioner, Colorado High School Activities Association

Bhrett McCabe

Bhrett McCabe, PhD

Founder, The Mindside

Charley Nordin headshot.

Charley Nordin, PLY

Paralympic Silver Medalist
Division I Rowing, Gonzaga

Steve Pipes headshot.

Lt Col Stephen Pipes, USAF, Ret

Head Football Coach, College Prep School

Allison Schmitt headshot.

Allison Schmitt, OLY

10-Time Olympic Medalist, Mental Health Advocate

Melissa Streno headshot.

Melissa Streno, PsyD

Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Lantern Psychology

TrueSport Talks

Charron Sumler

Athletic Counselor, The Ohio State University Athletics

Candice Williams headshot.

Candice Williams, PHD

Director, Mind Health and Wellness, Boston Celtics

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

2022 Testimonials

Testimonials from the 2022 TrueSport Talks.

TrueSport Talk Testimonial: "Well-rounded discussion panels. Loved hearing from the athletes as well as the professionals in mental health fields. The atmosphere of the whole seminar was very affirming. Had never heard of this organization before and just happened to open an email I received and was intrigued by what I saw on the website. So glad I signed up for the seminar." - Kim B.
TrueSport Talk Testimonial: "I enjoyed the various speakers. The issues that were discussed and the solutions. I appreciate that athletes shared personal experiences and struggles on this free event. I appreciate that I was able to get this information for free. To have professional athlete and coaches and other professionals present is a privilege. Thank you TrueSport." James B.
TrueSport Talks testimonials: "It was very informative and had honest conversation about youth athletes and mental health. The speakers also gave practical ideas on how to approach young people about their performance and how it can lead to an increase or decrease in their mental health." - Allison N.

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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.

Alexander Cohen, PhD, CMPC

Alex Cohen headshot.Alexander Cohen, PhD, CMPC
Senior Sport Psychological Services Provider
United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee

Dr. Alexander Cohen is a Senior Sport Psychological Services Provider at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC). Working primarily with winter sports, Dr. Cohen provides sport psychology consultation and counseling for national teams, athletes, and coaches at the Olympic Training Centers, at various National Governing Body training sites, and at national and international competitions.
As a licensed psychologist and certified mental performance consultant, Dr. Cohen assists coaches in creating supportive performance environments that promote psychological and physical skill acquisition and mastery. He works directly with athletes to maximize Performance Readiness (the ability to focus on the right thing, at the right time, every time) through quality preparation, enhanced resilience, and mindful self-regulation of awareness and attention.

Dr. Cohen joined the USOPC in 2011 after maintaining a psychology practice in Athens, GA. He also served as program chair for the sport psychology graduate program at Argosy University in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Cohen is a member of the American Psychological Association’s Society for Exercise, Sport, and Performance Psychology and is a member and Fellow of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Dr. Cohen served on AASP’s Executive Board as Professional Standards Division Head (2013-2016), providing leadership in Diversity, Certification, Ethics, and Continuing Education.

Dr. Cohen earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas A&M and his M.S. in sport psychology and Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Florida State University. He completed a pre-doctoral internship with a specialization in sport psychology at Kansas State University and a post-doctoral fellowship specializing in sport psychology at the University of Georgia. Dr. Cohen is licensed as a psychologist in Utah as well as being a PSYPACT authorized provider.

Dr. Cohen resides in Park City, UT with his wife, son, and golden retriever.

Joe Delagrave, PLY

Joe Delagrave headshot.Joe Delagrave, PLY
2x Paralympic Medalist, Team USA Wheelchair Basketball Head Coach

A keynote speaker, coach, and 2x Paralympic medalist in wheelchair rugby, Joe Delagrave loves to share his resilience story. His journey took him from being a college football player, to fighting through a devastating accident, finding his passion as a professional wheelchair rugby player (yes this is a thing where players are disabled and crash into each other as hard as they want), and eventually finding his purpose as a speaker and coach. Joe grew up in a home that was centered on faith, and he needed that faith to get through the devastation of paralysis. Through faith, a strong inner circle, and discipline, Joe has not let paralysis stop him from finding his purpose in life! Through heart gripping stories, humor, and authenticity to captivate his audiences, and help them see that they can choose to have permanent victory! Some of Joe’s accolades over the years include 13 years on the USAWR National Team, 8 years as a captain, the only player to win player of the year twice in the USWRA, 2x World Championship All-Tournament team, and a myriad of club tournament awards. Joe has been the Head Coach of USA Wheelchair Rugby since 2021. Way more important than any of the accolades are his wife, April, and 3 kids, Braxton, Brayden, and Brynley! Joe and his family reside in the Caribbean Island of Holmen, WI.

Adam Feit, PhD, CSCS, RSCC*D, SCCC, CMPC

Adam Feit headshot.Adam Feit, PhD, CSCS, RSCC*D, SCCC, CMPC
Assistant Professor of Exercise Science & Fieldwork Coordinator, Springfield College

Dr. Adam Feit teaches strength and conditioning and sport psychology as an Assistant Professor and Fieldwork Coordinator of Exercise Science at Springfield College (MA). He has served as a collegiate and professional strength and conditioning coach and nutrition coordinator for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, Eastern Michigan University, University of Louisville, and The Citadel. Dr. Feit also owns and operates TF Performance, a family-driven, athlete-centered youth sports performance facility in western Massachusetts. His research interests include the use of mental skills in strength and conditioning, coaching efficacy and education, and youth physical and mental performance.

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.

Lesley Irvine

Lesley Irvine headshot.Lesley Irvine
Vice President and Director of Athletics, Colorado College

Lesley Irvine began her tenure as Vice President and Director of Athletics at Colorado College on June 1, 2019. In her role, Irvine serves on Colorado Colleges President’s cabinet and oversees the multidivisional Division III (Division I Hockey and Women’s Soccer) department of Athletics and Recreation sponsoring over 400 student-athletes across 17 sports. Since Irvine’s arrival Colorado College Athletics has experienced unprecedented success in championships, academic performance, attendance, revenue and fundraising while focusing on developing holistic student support including mental wellness and antiracism. A proud former student-athlete and coach Irvine has established herself as a leader in hiring practices and supporting coaches as a sport administrator.

Prior to joining Colorado College, Irvine was Director of Athletics and Recreation and Chair of Physical Education at Pomona and Pitzer Colleges. At Pomona-Pitzer, Irvine managed 21 intercollegiate athletics teams, the Pomona physical education curriculum, faculty/staff fitness and wellness programs, and club, intramural, and recreation programs.

Irvine’s active service is also extensive and includes being an elected member of the Board of Directors for Women Leaders in Sports, Colorado Springs Sports Corporation, the Olympic City USA Task Force and the Colorado Springs Sports Authority. Irvine was also a founding board member of the WeCoach organization and regularly attends the NCAA Coaches academy as a faculty member.
 
Before Pomona-Pitzer, Irvine was the senior associate athletic director and senior woman administrator at Bowling Green State University from 2010-15.
 
From 2001-2010, she was the field hockey head coach at Stanford University, leading the Cardinal to three consecutive Northern Pacific Conference championships. She is a two-time conference Coach of the Year recipient, and led her team to program highs in national ranking, wins, goals, assists, and points in 2009.
 
As a student athlete in field hockey, Irvine led the University of Iowa to the Big Ten regular season title and an NCAA Final Four appearance in 1999.
 
An England native, Irvine was a three-time national champion in outdoor field hockey and two-time national champion for indoor field hockey while attending Loughborough University. Irvine also played for the England Under 18 and Under 21 National team.
 
Irvine earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education, sports science, and sport management at Loughborough University in 1998, and a master’s degree in health, leisure, and sports studies with an emphasis in athletic administration from the University of Iowa in 2001.

Geoff Kelly

Geoff Kelly headshot.Geoff Kelly
Mesa Ridge High School Basketball Coach

After graduating high school in 2016, Geoff was fortunate enough to commit to the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and play basketball for the Mountain Lions for 6 years, 5 of which he was a captain. He was also a 5-year leader on the student-athlete advisory committee. He was awarded the UCCS Athletic Director award in 2019 and was named the UCCS Male student-athlete of the year in 2022. During this time, he finished his undergrad degree in Finance in 2020 and went straight into his MBA, which he finished in 2022.

Although he enjoyed everything about UCCS, his career didn’t come without adversity. Between his sophomore and junior years, Geoff tore his ACL and was on the receiving end of 3 different knee surgeries. These surgeries resulted in a year and a half of rehab that forced him to detach from the game of basketball. Like many athletes in similar situations, in his mind he felt distant from his team and was unable to free his mind in the only way he understood, playing basketball. He felt that he had lost who he was because of these injuries. However, with the support of great mentors around him, he was able to understand how much more he was than just a basketball player.

Now, Geoff runs a financial planning practice in Colorado Springs and coaches basketball at Mesa Ridge High School. This past year, the Grizzlies won the 5A state title and finished the season 28-0.

Stephanie Miezin, MS, RD, CSSD

Stephanie Miezin headshot.Stephanie Miezin, MS, RD, CSSD
Registered Dietitian
Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics

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

Jim Miller

Jim Miller headshot.Jim Miller
Chief of Sport Performance, USA Cycling

Motivating, developing, strengthening, and empowering Olympic athletes and World Champions is what I do every day, Chief of Sports Performance for USA Cycling [the official cycling organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee, and the International Cycling Union].

As the COSP, I lead and shape organizational philosophy while managing daily operations. As a High Performance Director, I develop high performance plans and provide fiscal controls to facilitate meeting organizational goals on a global scale.

I employ my passion daily, driving excellence in athletic performance and directing and mentoring coaches and athletes for professional and personal achievement.

Career Highlights:

Personally coached more cycling Olympic medal winning athletes than any other coach in the U.S.

– 5 Olympic Medals

– 6 World Champions

– 10 World Championship Podiums

– 60+ National Champions

– United States Olympic Committee Coach of the Year – 2003 & 2004

– United States Olympic Committee [USOC] Order of Ikkos – 2008, 2012, 2016

– Personally coached an Olympic Medalist for 4 consecutive Olympic Games – 2004 to 2016

– 5x Olympic Games Team

Melissa Streno, PsyD

Melissa Streno headshot.Melissa Streno, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Lantern Psychology

Dr. Melissa Streno earned a PsyD in clinical psychology (2015) and an MA in sport and performance psychology (2010) from the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology. She completed her pre-doctoral internship training with Psychological Resources for OU Student-Athletes (PROS) at The University of Oklahoma. Upon moving back to her native city of Denver, Colo., Streno completed her postdoctoral fellowship within an eating disorder treatment program focusing on developing and leading a track designed specifically for athletes. She spent three years as a primary therapist in the eating disorder partial hospitalization program before venturing into full-time private practice with Lantern Psychology as a licensed psychologist in Colorado. She continues to teach as an Adjunct Professor in the Sport and Performance Psychology Program at the University of Denver as well.

Streno is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology and has consulted with youth, high school, collegiate, elite, and Olympic athletes from a variety of sport and performance domains, including dancers and musicians, as well as those active in a business setting. Areas of expertise include, but are not limited to eating disorders, disordered eating, body image distress, anxiety, depression, and life/relationship transitions. Additionally, she helps those leaving a performance realm maintain valuable parts of their identity and connect with purpose to develop a genuine relationship with food, exercise, and their body.

 

Charron Sumler

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. 

. 

Kara Winger, OLY

Kara Winger headshot.Kara Winger, OLY
Track & Field – Javelin

Kara Winger retired from a javelin career unmatched in American history at the end of the 2022 season. She overcame much adversity in the span of four Olympic Games, six World Championships teams, and nine U.S. titles, and credits coaches, athletic trainers, and her family for playing pivotal roles in the development of her trademark perseverance. While a second career ACL tear in 2020 threatened the final two seasons that Kara had planned for herself, teamwork with those around her, personal work in therapy, and difficult-but-respectful conversations about how she needed to move forward propelled her to new heights. Her final Olympic team in Tokyo did not result in the Finals berth she dreamed of, but instead the honor of a lifetime: A peer vote as not only women’s track and field team captain, but the Team USA Closing Ceremony flag bearer. Propelled by that core feeling of acceptance, her final season was fueled by celebration from the outset, and resulted in the first ever women’s javelin World Championships medal (silver) for the United States, her first personal best in 12 years and second career American Record with a world-leading 68.11m (223’5″) mark, and the Diamond League title (the first for an American javelin thrower in the league’s 10-year history), all resulting in a World #1 Ranking on the season. She continues to contribute to the throws community through announcing gigs, javelin clinics, and her own personal mission to coach coaches in javelin technique, as she believes strongly in the gift of coaching and the power of coach-athlete relationships.

Corey Robinson

Corey Robinson headshot.Corey Robinson
Emcee; NBC Sports Host & Reporter; Division I Football, Notre Dame

Corey Robinson, an NBC Sports host and reporter, serves as a sideline reporter for the 2022 USFL season. A former Notre Dame wide receiver, he joined NBC Sports in Jan. 2020.

Robinson has worked the past two Olympic Games with NBC Sports, serving as a curling reporter at the Beijing Olympics following his Olympic debut as a sportsdesk reporter during the Tokyo Olympics.

Robinson contributes to a variety of properties across the NBC Sports portfolio on linear, digital and social platforms, serving as host of the ND on NBC Podcast and as an analyst on Atlantic 10 basketball.

A 2017 graduate from the University of Notre Dame, Robinson was a wide receiver on the Fighting Irish football team from 2013-2015, was named a first-team Academic All-American, and was awarded the Notre Dame Knute Rockne Student-Athlete Award in 2014. In 2016-17, he became the first-ever Notre Dame football player to serve as student body president.

Robinson is the son of Hall of Fame basketball player David Robinson.

Cailin Bracken

Cailin Bracken headshot.Cailin Bracken
Division I Lacrosse, Vanderbilt University

Cailin Bracken is a junior at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, and is an attacker on the school’s Division I women’s lacrosse team. Having grown up in a lacrosse family in northern New Jersey, Cailin grew up surrounded by expectations that she would become an elite athlete. By age 16, Cailin was ranked by Inside Lacrosse as one of the top-20 attack recruits in the country and earned accolades ranging from academic recognition to the Under-Armour All America tournament honors. A longtime mental health advocate on her personal blog @kalewithcail on Instagram and her website ownyourstory.community, in the spring of 2022, Cailin penned an inspiring message titled ‘A Letter to College Sports’ in which she discussed her own experience with mental health challenges as a student-athlete, and urged readers to reconsider their perspective on vulnerability, failure, mental toughness, and compassion as it pertains to the student-athlete experience. Cailin’s letter has been shared by numerous national media outlets including a feature on Good Morning America, and the piece was listed as the #3 most read piece in US Lacrosse Magazine in 2022. 

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. 

Erin Haugen, PhD, LP, CMPC

Erin Haugen headshot.Erin Haugen, PhD, LP, CMPC
Director, Mental Health and Performance Psychology
University of North Dakota

Erin Haugen, PhD, LP, CMPC, is the Director of Mental Health and Performance Psychology for the University of North Dakota Athletics and Sports Medicine Departments and Founder and CEO of Haugen Performance Consulting. She has over 15 years of experience in elite sport focusing on mental health and performance psychology. Dr. Haugen specializes in working with athletic departments, student-athletes, coaches, staff, sports medicine professionals, and licensed mental health professionals at the collegiate level. She is also an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Psychology at the University of North Dakota where she provides training to PhD candidates in psychological assessment and sport psychology. As a Licensed Psychologist, Certified Mental Performance Consultant ®, and athlete herself, she understands all aspects of the elite athlete environment. In her spare time, Dr. Haugen competes in triathlons and enjoys camping and hiking with her husband and three border collie mix rescue dogs: Fromm, Eddie, and Bella.

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.

Michael Krueger, Ed. S., CMAA

Michael Kreuger headshot.Michael Krueger, Ed.S., CMAA
Commissioner, Colorado High School Activities Association

As Commissioner of the Colorado High School Activities Association, Michael Krueger and his team oversee the administration and oversight of athletic and activity programs for Colorado’s 363-member high schools.  Krueger’s career spans over 30 years in public education as an administrator, athletic/activities director, counselor, teacher and coach.  He most recently served as the Senior Director of Education for National Governing Body USA Football where his team led the evolution and design of the Football Development Model (FDM). The FDM is based on long-term athlete development principles and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s American Development Model.

The Colorado native has earned numerous awards for his work, including the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) State Award of Merit and he has also received the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) Citation Award.

A former assistant professor at Metro State University Denver, Mike is also a member of the National Teaching Faculty for the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA).

Bhrett McCabe, PhD

Bhrett McCabeBhrett McCabe, PhD
Founder, The Mindside

Dr. Bhrett McCabe is the founder of The MindSide, a center for Sports and Performance Psychology, and trusted advisor for the top performing competitors in the country. Dr. McCabe combines his personal experience as a 2x National Champion Division I athlete, his training as a licensed clinical psychologist, and his corporate leadership experience to help competitors achieve an elite performance mindset. Dr. McCabe develops personalized strategies and processes to help athletes and businesses achieve success at the highest levels. Dr. McCabe serves as the Sports & Performance Psychologist for elite-level athletes, corporate leaders, and teams including The University of Alabama Athletics, PGA Tour, NFL, and NBA. Dr. McCabe’s strategies are also trusted by high-achieving businesses including multiple Fortune 500 organizations, Andrews Sports Medicine, and Titlest Performance Institute.  

Dr. McCabe is the author of The MindSide Manifesto: The Urgency to Create a Competitive Mindset which he has developed in order to help athletes, coaches, and leaders compete to the best of their ability. Dr. McCabe also hosts a weekly podcast entitled “The Secrets to Winning” and has published several academic journal articles, presented numerous scientific presentations, as well as provided insight and authored articles for trade magazines such as GOLF Magazine, Golf World, Golf Week, and ESPNW, among others. Dr. McCabe has made several appearances on The Golf Channel’s Morning Drive and The Golf Fix.

 Dr. McCabe’s latest endeavor is called Catalyst School, where Dr. McCabe provides weekly, live coaching sessions via Zoom for anyone who is a catalyst for others- coaches and business leaders alike. More information can be found at www.bhrettmccabe.com/catalyst-school.

Charley Nordin, PLY

Charley Nordin headshot.Charley Nordin
Paralympic Silver Medalist
Division I Rowing, Gonzaga

Charley Nordin is a Paralympic silver medalist who obtained his master’s degree in sociology this year. Having performed at some of the highest levels of sport he has experienced first-hand the intense strain and resulting struggle that training and competition can have on an athlete’s mental health. As a four year member of Gonzaga’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee, he spent countless hours working with and advising both fellow athletes and administrative members on the best ways in which to address the challenges young adults face in balancing both athletics and academics. It is his hope that through having conversations with the next generation of athletes, the stigma surrounding the topic of mental health can work to be diminished. 

Lt Col Stephen Pipes, USAF, Ret

Steve Pipes headshot.
Lt Col Stephen Pipes, USAF, Ret 
Head Football Coach, College Prep School

Steve Pipes is the head football coach of the Air Force Prep Huskies.  Pipes is a 1998 graduate of the Air Force Academy, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in social science.  He was a three-year letterman in football as a defensive back and led the team in interceptions in 1996.  An all-Western Athletic Conference selection, he was on teams that won three Commander-in Chief’s Trophies, one of the school’s three Conference championships, and helped lead the 1997 team to a 10-win season.  His coaching career began at the United States Air Force Academy Prep School where he served as the secondary coach, defensive coordinator and head coach.  As the secondary coach, Pipes developed All-American Reggie Rembert and Mountain West Conference first- and second- team selections Jon Davis and Anthony Wright.  Pipes, again returned to the United States Air Force Academy as the assistant defensive line coach and head JV Coach/defensive coordinator.  Under his mentorship, the defensive line produced a two-time All-Mountain West Conference player in Alex Hansen while Ryan Watson led the conference in sacks en route to first-team honors.

Previous to his return to the Air Force Academy Prep School, Coach Pipes was the Kentucky State University defensive coordinator and linebackers coach where he was involved in defensive game planning and execution and preparation of special teams.  Additionally, he was the program’s liaison for player academic affairs and mentorship opportunities.  During his first season 35 players achieved over a 3.5 GPA while three were selected to the conference All-Academic team.

Coach Pipes is an Air Force combat veteran with over 20 years of military experience and holds a master’s degree in administrative leadership from Central Michigan University.  Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, he is a graduate of Wyoming High School where he is a member of the school’s athletic Hall of Fame.  He and his wife, Candice, have three children, Thair, Sienna and Stephen.

Allison Schmitt, OLY

Allison Schmitt headshot.Allison Schmitt, OLY
10-Time Olympic Medalist, Mental Health Advocate

One of the most decorated American athletes of all-time, Allison Schmitt is a four-time Olympian and 10-time Olympic medalist. A veteran leader, Schmitt was named captain of the 2020 USA Swimming Team in Tokyo, a role she also held for the 2016 Rio Games. Out of the pool, she is an avid mental health advocate, speaking out about her personal struggles with depression and her family’s tragedy of losing a loved one to suicide. As an Advisory Council Member for the Michael Phelps Foundation, Schmitt works to help educate on the importance of water safety and mental health. Passionate about raising awareness and helping those who are battling mental health issues, Schmitt earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Georgia, is completing her Master’s degree in Social Work from Arizona State University and plans to pursue a career in mental health after leaving the pool.

Candice Williams, PhD

Candice Williams headshot.Candice Williams, PhD
Director, Mind Health and Wellness
Boston Celtics

A nationally recognized researcher and mental health professional, Candice Williams, Ph.D. is a Texas native in Boston Massachusetts specializing in mental health counseling and sport performance. She currently serves as the Director of Mind Health and Wellness for the Boston Celtics. Previously, Dr. Williams served as an Athletics Counselor at The Ohio State University Athletics Department – Sports Psychology & Wellness Services where she provided psychotherapy and consultation services to student-athletes, coaches and athletic support staff. Prior to transitioning to college athletics, Dr. Williams served as a Program Manager for The Trust (Powered by the NFLPA). There, she assisted retired NFL players in all aspects of their transition following the success of their NFL career.

As a mental health professional, not only does she lead with care, but she also embodies the spirit of service and advocacy while supporting the well-being of athletes. Her passions include developing player centric programs focused on athlete development and transition, content creation on mental health related topics, as well as providing preventative and responsive training to coaches, parents, mental health professionals, and athletics staff on the importance of athlete mental health and wellness.

Over the past 10 years, Dr. Williams has crafted a respected career and professional reputation supporting the personal and emotional development of athletes at various levels of their athletic careers. An experienced mental health professional Dr. Williams is dedicated to building transformational relationships with stakeholders (i.e., athletes, coaches, sports medicine staff, sports performance staff) and developing innovative ways to foster access between athletes and mental health services. 

She has been featured in popular press publications such as ESPN CollegeDay, Men’s Health Magazine, NCAA Champion Magazine, and USA Today – Sports. Dr. Williams is committed to elevating the conversations about mental health and sports performance. She’s a huge advocate for “training the body from the neck up and not just the neck down.” She is passionate about helping athletes move beyond the stigma associated with mental health and towards prioritizing their minds and bodies too.

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.

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.

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.