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Mental Wellness and the Young Athlete - the Path Forward

Mental Wellness & The Student Athlete

Mental wellness topics have frequented global headlines over the last couple of years, yet for our young athletes, the roadmap to navigate such challenges is unclear. TrueSport welcomes you to join their virtual #TrueTalks event this December, featuring athletes and experts outlining mental wellness challenges and solutions to assist coaches, parents, and educators in helping their athletes compete well.

RECORDED SESSIONS

Event Schedule
Guest Speakers
2021 Testimonials

Event Schedule

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2021

Session 1 – Competing Well: Athletes and Mental Wellness
Moderator: Allison Wagner
Featuring: Gracie Gold, Noah Lyles, Deja Young-Craddock
10:00-11:15 a.m.

The underlying factors that impact mental health may be different for every athlete, and this athlete-driven discussion is designed to enlighten athletes, parents, and coaches about the spectrum of mental health challenges and to reduce associated stigmas. In this segment, Olympic and Paralympic athletes will discuss their own mental health experiences in and away from sports, including their own formative adolescent events.

 
Session 2 – Cultivating Cultures for Mental Wellness in Youth Sport
Moderator: Dr. Kevin Chapman
Featuring: Dr. Bhrett McCabe, Ken Lolla, Josephus Lyles
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Sporting environments that encourage resilience and allow for psychological safety are crucial for youth development, while win-at-all costs youth sports cultures can be harmful to the mental wellbeing of athletes. The panelists will identify the frameworks that make up supportive sporting environments.

Lunch
12:30-1:00 p.m.

 

Session 3 – Community & Connection: How Healthy Sports Environments are Made
Moderator: David Plummer
Featuring: Dr. Peter C. Scales, Dr. Brittany Patterson, Keisha Caine Bishop
1:00-2:00 p.m.

Healthy relationships formed through sport involve active and ongoing participation. In this panel, the experts dive into the action steps needed to build and maintain engagement within sports communities.

Session 4 – Capacity Building for Resilience: Skills for Athletes
Moderator: Dr. Deborah Gilboa
Featuring: Dr. Jennifer Hartstein, Chris Curd
2:15 – 3:30 p.m.

Successful athletes are developed, not born. In the same way, mental health capacity and resilience progress with practice. This panel tackles the actionable and practical skill-based response necessary to support young athletes in their mental wellness practice and how to respond to stressors inherent in their environment.

Guest Speakers

Keisha Bishop

Keisha Caine Bishop

CEO & Founder, Bishop Athletics Counseling President, Lyles Brothers Sports Foundation Certified Life Coach

Dr. Kevin Chapman headshot.

Kevin Chapman, PhD

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

Chris Curd

Chris Curd

Founder & Commissioner of the Pittsburgh Flag Football League (PFFL)

Dr. Deborah Gilboa headshot.

Deborah Gilboa, MD

Board-Certified Family Physician, Founder AskDoctorG.com

Gracie Gold

Gracie Gold, OLY

Figure Skating

2021 TrueSport Talks

Jennifer Hartstein, PsyD

Hartstein Psychological Services, PLLC

Ken Lolla

Ken Lolla

Consultant, Coach, Speaker, & Author

Josephus Lyles Headshot

Josephus Lyles

Track & Field Sprinter

Noah Lyles

Noah Lyles, OLY

Professional American Track & Field Sprinter 2020 Olympic Bronze Medalist

Bhrett McCabe

Bhrett McCabe, PhD

Founder, The Mindside

Dr. Brittany Patterson

Brittany Patterson, PhD

Licensed Psychologist Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM)

David Plummer head shot

David Plummer

U.S.A. Swimming Olympian U.S. Anti-Doping Agency Board of Directors Vice President of Operations, Premier Sport Psychology

Peter Scales head shot

Peter Scales, PhD

Deja Young

Deja Young-Craddock, PLY

Paralympian, Track & Field

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

2021 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

2021 Testimonials

TrueSport Talks testomonial from Deja Young-Craddock.
TrueSport Talks testomonial from Bill Baum.
TrueSport Talks testomonial from Judy Sandlin.
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By providing TrueSport tools and resources to a community of TrueSport advocates, like you, the TrueSport mission of changing the culture of youth sport comes to life in communities across the country. Together, we can change the culture of youth sport and better equip tomorrow’s leaders for lasting success.

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Keisha Caine Bishop

Keisha BishopKeisha Caine Bishop
CEO & Founder, Bishop Athletics Counseling
President, Lyles Brothers Sports Foundation
Certified Life Coach

Keisha Caine Bishop is a Washington, DC native.  However, she considers herself a resident of the entire east coast.  She attended Seton Hall University on a full scholarship for Track & Field.  Upon graduation, in 1995, she was a 10-time NCAA All-American, a member of Who’s Who In American Colleges & Universities, and a recipient of her B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Spanish. 

After graduation, she married and relocated to Gainesville, Florida.  There she devoted her time to homeschooling her 3 children (Noah, Josephus, & Abby Lyles).  From 2005- 2010, she and her family resided in Charlotte, NC where she was a freelance writer for The Charlotte Observer and a Mary Kay Sales Director earning the famed Mary Kay car as she led a team of 200 women.

In 2010, Keisha left Charlotte, NC to return to her roots of the Washington, DC after going through a divorce that ended her 13-year marriage.  She and her children became rooted in Alexandria, VA. Keisha worked as a Bilingual Case Manager for adults with Intellectual Disabilities for the DC Government.  In 2016, her sons (Noah & Josephus) were the first US male sprinters to go professional out of high school when they signed a 7-year contract with adidas.  Her daughter, Abby, went on to study Biochemistry in college.

Keisha is currently the CEO and Founder of Bishop Athletics Consulting, the President of The Lyles Brothers Sports Foundation, and a Certified Life Coach. Having raised 2 children with Dylexia and ADD, she is an advocate for children with Learning Differences and mental health awareness. She is the current wife of Mark Bishop and they have a blended family of 7 children.  Her son, Josephus is currently ranked 9th in the World in the 200m. While Noah, is the 2020 Olympic Bronze Medalist in the 200m. Her passion is helping others become the best version of themselves as they pursue all life has for them! Keisha likes to describe herself as having “BBA” Bounce Back Ability. 

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.

Chris Curd

Chris CurdChris Curd
Founder & Commissioner of the Pittsburgh Flag Football League (PFFL)

As the Founder and Commissioner of the Pittsburgh Flag Football League (PFFL), Chris Curd brings twelve years of experience in league operations and brand strategy to the flag football landscape. Under his leadership, the NFL Flag program has been thrusted into a fast track for growth in Western Pennsylvania in the recreational, interscholastic and competitive levels. Through the efforts of a dedicated staff, various strategic partnerships and diligence with respect to marketing, the PFFL is widely recognized as a leader in flag football.

Chris is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and four-year letterman and scholarship member of the football team. Post college, he was fortunate enough to have a brief stint in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons along with numerous AFL teams throughout his professional playing career. With seven years of experience in the technology start-up community and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business, Chris currently serves as a development consultant for organizations with marketing and branding needs. He and his lovely wife Sharae’ currently reside in Pittsburgh with their three daughters.

Follow Chris on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/chris-curd/

Follow the PFFL on Instagram: @pghflagfootball

Follow the PFFL on Facebook: @pghflagfootball

Follow the PFFL on Twitter: @pghflagfootball

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. 

Gracie Gold

Gracie GoldGracie Gold, OLY
Figure Skating

In the truest form of the word, Gracie Gold is a champion.

A two-time U.S. gold medalist and Olympic team bronze medalist in figure skating, one of America’s most popular athletes now champions mental health awareness.

Among the stars of the 2014 Olympics, Gracie appeared in national campaigns for Nike, United Airlines, P&G, Smucker’s, Pandora and more. Although she finished just off the Olympic podium in her Olympic debut, the future was bright for this talented athlete.

Gracie surprised skating fans at the beginning of the 2017-18 Olympic season, announcing in a press release that she was stepping away from the sport to seek treatment for anxiety, depression and an eating disorder. She was among the first high-profile athletes to publicly address mental health issues.

After working through months of inpatient treatment, Gracie bravely shared her story through national media to bring attention to athlete mental health and help remove the stigma often associated with it.

Today, Gracie, 26, is back on the competitive ice, training in a way that is both healthy for her mind and body. In the past, she routinely received an automatic bid for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships but now earns her spot through qualifying competitions.

Gracie’s return to the U.S. Championships in 2020 was greeted with fans giving her a standing ovation and fellow athletes and coaches wiping
away tears. An inspiration to so many, she is currently training to earn her spot in January’s 2022 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships. 

Jennifer L. Hartstein, PsyD

Jennifer L. Hartstein, PsyD
Hartstein Psychological Services, PLLC

Dr. Jen is currently in private practice in New York City, specializing in the treatment of high-risk children and adolescents. She is the owner and founder of Hartstein Psychological Services, PLLC, a group psychotherapy practice. Until recently, Dr. Jen was the mental health contributor for Yahoo! Lifestyle and Yahoo! News. She is also a frequent psychological contributor for NBC’s The Today Show, a national morning news program. She was a Mental Health Core Expert for The Dr. Oz Show and was the psychological/lifestyle contributor on CBS’ The Early Show. Dr. Jen is the author of Princess Recovery: A How-to Guide to Raising Empowered Girls who Can Create Their Own Happily Ever Afters.


Prior to her full-time private practice, Dr. Jen was the Clinical Director of the Discovery Center at the Child and Family Institute (CFI) of St Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, a short-term substance abuse prevention and early intervention program for adolescents. She was an Adjunct Professor at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology of Yeshiva University in the Bronx, NY. Before working at CFI, Dr. Jen was an Attending Psychologist in the Child Outpatient Psychiatry Department of Montefiore Medica Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.

Dr. Jen received her BA from George Washington University in Washington, DC and her MA in Dance/Movement Therapy from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia. She worked on two adolescent inpatient units, creating and implementing group therapy programs, before returning to Yeshiva University to complete her doctorate in School-Child Clinical Psychology.

Dr. Jen works with children, adolescents and their families with a wide range of psychological diagnoses. She has received intensive training in adolescent suicide assessment and has specialized in this population for several years. Dr. Jen is frequently asked to speak at conferences or for companies about promoting positive mental health practices. Dr. Jen is on the Executive Board of Active Minds, an organization that empowers students to speak openly about mental health issues, while educating and encouraging others to do the same. Previously, she was on the advisory board for MTV’s A Thin Line, which focused on the digital behaviors of today’s young people and was the head of the Practitioner Alliance of We’re All a Little “Crazy,” a global mental health initiative, an organization with whom she continues to work. Dr. Jen also is a self-esteem ambassador for Dove’s Real Beauty campaign, which aims to increase confidence for girls and women. Dr. Jen has published and presented on teen-related issues and has spoken as an expert on a variety of psychological issues in print, television and radio.

Dr. Jen lives and practices in New York City.

Ken Lolla

Ken LollaKen Lolla
Consultant, Coach, Speaker, & Author

Ken Lolla is a winner personally and professionally. After an All-American career as a player at Duke University, he transitioned into one of the winningest Division I coaches in the last three decades.

Thirty years of building a culture of success has led to Ken Lolla’s illustrious coaching career.  Passing on principles of success through soccer to inspire change and encourage growth in the lives of others, has been the trademark of Ken’s for over three decades. Recognized twice as the National Coach of the Year, Ken’s success is based on the timeless principles and character-based leadership skills that he passionately teaches others through coaching, mentoring, professional speaking, video tutorials, writing and summer camps.


When it comes to building a soccer program into a national powerhouse, Ken emerged as a top leader in the industry. Using soccer as a tool for growing young men, Lolla guided three separate collegiate programs to national prominence. He led the University of Louisville to the 2010 NCAA College Cup Final, 2010 Big East Championship, 2018 ACC Championship, and a #1 National ranking.  

Ken has served as the U-15 US National Team Coach and as an assistant coach for his alma mater, Duke University. He has coached over 30 players to go on to play professionally in the AISA  and USL.

Ken now draws on his 30 years of experience to teach, consult mentor, while implementing the principles necessary to build a successful team; whether that be in athletic programs, businesses or corporate settings.  Ken is highly valued and sought after for his ability to mentor young coaches and executives to become dynamic leaders.  He has most recently worked with teams and leaders at Duke University, Norton Health Care, Intuitive Surgical, KIA, Physicians Rehab Solutions, UofL Neurosurgery, Elite Homes, Centre College, Hanover College, UC San Diego, Oral Roberts University and Liberty University.

Ken is the author of “Finding Your Gifts”, a timeless story about a young boy and a giraffe that illustrates the value and significance of each individual. Since the birth of his three children story telling has also become a passion in Ken’s life.  “Finding Your Gifts” is a product of many bedtime moments with his children focused on introducing character values and life lessons.

 He also wrote a coaching manual for young coaches, “Passing It On”, which provides a practical guide as well as essential tools to reassure any new coach.  Ken’s journey continues as he passionately pursues increasing the lives of others.

Josephus Lyles

Josephus Lyles RunningJosephus Lyles
Track & Field Sprinter

Success has been no stranger to Josephus Lyles. In just his second year of high school, Josephus won his first Virginia State High School Championships over 400m. Two weeks later, he claimed the national outdoor title, as well and ended his season with a gold medal in the 4x400m Relay at the IAAF World U20 Championships.

In 2015, Josephus was nearly unstoppable. He won Virginia state titles at both 200m and 400m, and won gold medals over 400m and in both relays at the Caribbean Scholastic Championships in Havana, Cuba. That June, he won the national under-18 title at 400m and represented the USA at the IAAF World Under-18 Championships in Calí, Colombia. In Colombia, Josephus won the silver medal over 400m and the bronze in the 200m.

Josephus’s senior season started out thrillingly, with the quarter-miler specialist winning the national high school title at 60m. Though injury late in the season curtailed his outdoor campaign, his results were impressive enough that Josephus turned pro and bypassed the US collegiate system to focus all his energies at the top level of the sport.

In his first full season as a professional, Josephus won the silver medal over 400m at the Pan-Am Junior Championships and ran a key leg on the USA’s 4x400m relay at those championships, setting a new under-20 world record. A year later, Josephus qualified for his first senior US Championships final, taking sixth in the 400m.

Despite the limited opportunities to race, Josephus made the most of a truncated 2020 season, winning the 200m at the Drake Relays and finishing the year among the top-10 fastest men in the world at both 200m and 400m. In 2021, Josephus set new lifetime bests for 100m and 200m, and earned a spot at the Wanda Diamond League Final over 200m, where he finished fifth.

Noah Lyles

Noah Lyles sprinting in a race
Adidas Boost Boston Games

Noah Lyles, OLY
Professional American Track & Field Sprinter
2020 Olympic Bronze Medalist

Since he was just a kid, it was clear that Noah Lyles was destined for greatness. Along with his brother, Josephus, Noah was consistently the best short sprinter of his age, winning race after race, not just in Virginia, but around the world.

In 2014, Noah took gold over 200 meters at the Youth Olympic Games in China. A year later, Noah took first in the US junior championships and then took home gold for Team USA over 200m at the Pan American Junior Championships in Canada.

Perhaps most notably, in his final race as a high school senior, Noah finished an incredible fourth in the final of the 200m at the 2016 US Olympic Trials, just missing a spot in Rio. His time of 20.09 broke the national high school record, set 31 years earlier.

Noah’s final competition of the 2016 season was at the World Under-20 Championships in Poland, where he took home gold in the 100m and anchored Team USA home to first in the 4x100m Relay. Following his gold medal wins in Poland, Noah turned professional and signed a long-term endorsement contract with adidas.

In March 2017, Noah won his first senior national title, taking first over 300m at the US Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Noah’s winning time of 31.87 broke the previous world record of 31.88 set back in 2006.

Though injury prevented him from competing at the IAAF World Championships, Noah was able to return to competition by the end of the 2017 season. In his final race of the year, he defeated the world champion to win the 2017 IAAF Diamond League overall title at 200m.

Fully healthy in 2018, Noah was virtually unstoppable. At 100m, Noah won the US Championships in a lifetime best 9.88sec. At 200m, Noah went undefeated, running a world-leading 19.65 and breaking 19.70 three times. For his phenomenal season, Noah was named the 2018 Jesse
Owens Award winner, given to the USA’s most outstanding track and field athlete of the year.

Not missing a step from the previous season, Noah began 2019 in top fashion, winning his first IAAF Diamond League 100m race in Shanghai in a new lifetime best of 9.86 seconds. That July, Noah improved his 200m best to 19.50, making him the fourth-fastest man in history. He also won his first US outdoor title over 200m, as well as his first IAAF Diamond League title at 100m, making him the first man to win IAAF Diamond League titles at 100m and 200m.

At the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Noah capped off his season with his first world title, winning gold in the men’s 200m and then anchoring Team USA to its first 4x100m relay gold in twelve years and a new American record.

In a limited 2020 season, Noah was again the world’s dominant 200m runner, winning all of his races and ending the year with the fastest time in the world. The following year, Noah won the 200m at US Olympic Trials in dominating fashion, in a world-leading 19.76, qualifying for him for his first Olympic Games. At Tokyo 2020, Noah won the Olympic bronze medal in the 200m in 19.76, equaling his season best. In his final race of 2021, Noah demolished a world-class field at the Prefontaine Classic, winning the 200m in 19.52, the fastest time run in 2021 and the second-fastest of his career.

Social Media: Twitter: @LylesNoah | Facebook: @LylesNoah | Instagram: nojo18

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.

Brittany Patterson, PhD

Dr. Brittany PattersonBrittany Patterson, PhD
Licensed Psychologist
Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM)

Dr. Brittany Patterson is a Licensed Psychologist and Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM). She has served schools for more than a decade in various capacities and has specialized in school-based mental health services in underserved schools and communities since joining the UMSOM faculty in 2016. In her current role, Dr. Patterson provides training and technical assistance to diverse school stakeholders on the impact of trauma and strategies to create safe, healing environments for students.

 

She is particularly passionate about identifying and building upon the strengths of youth and their communities to promote positive mental health and well-being. In fact, “The Fight” was inspired by five years of serving a Title I school in Baltimore City where she was consistently impressed by the gifts and talents of our “fighters” – students often in trouble for difficulties related to behavioral or emotional distress. She found that invested adults, dedicated time, and ample skill building opportunities made a significant difference for the “fighters” and enabled many to not only survive but thrive!

 

Beyond her professional dedication to schools, Dr. Patterson is a proud daughter, sister, wife, and mommy! Her hobbies include spending time with her family over arts and crafts, food, outdoor sports, and reading. Ultimately, Dr. Patterson has one hope for all students, including her own children —

 

You deserve safe spaces to learn and grow,

full of opportunities to share what you know, 

and elevation of your talents for obstacles foreseen, 

ensuring accomplishment of every goal and unseen dream.

 

–Dr. Brittany Patterson (2020)

David Plummer, M.Ed., Oly

David Plummer head shotDavid Plummer
U.S.A. Swimming Olympian
U.S. Anti-Doping Agency Board of Directors
Vice President of Operations, Premier Sport Psychology

David Plummer is a two-time Olympic medalist from the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. David missed qualifying for three consecutive Olympic Games, missing the 2012 team by just .12 seconds. In 2016 he became the oldest first-time Olympian on the U.S. Olympic Swim Team since 1904. Through his career, he won three World Championship medals and four U.S. National Titles and was named team captain of the 2015 World Championship team.

After retirement from swimming, Plummer pursued a career in athletic administration with his alma mater, the University of Minnesota, working in different roles within administration and student-athlete development. David has also served as a high school and club coach and was named the 2014 Minnesota class AA coach of the year. He has served on the USA Swimming National Team Steering Committee, the USA Swimming National Team Athletes Committee, and the Positive Coaches Alliance Advisory Board in Minnesota.

David currently serves as the Vice President of Operations with Premier Sport Psychology. He is passionate about developing a positive team culture that leads to organizational success. Plummer holds a Masters degree in organizational leadership, policy and development, and is working towards his MBA. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife Erin, a neonatologist at Children’s Minnesota in St. Paul, and their two sons, William and Ricky.

Dr. Peter C. Scales

Peter Scales head shotPeter Scales, PhD

Developmental psychologist, tennis coach, author, and columnist Peter C. Scales, Ph.D., USPTA, is internationally known as one of the world’s foremost authorities on positive youth development and has conducted research in more than 30 countries globally. He has published 11 books, and more than 200 articles in peer-reviewed scholarly journals and popular publications, including op-ed pieces in newspapers such as the Denver Post, Newark Star-Ledger, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and Anchorage Daily News.  He has appeared on and been quoted in hundreds of media outlets, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, U.S. News and World Report, USA Today, Newsweek, Seventeen, and Sports Illustrated, and been featured on ABC-TV’s “Good Morning America.”

A U.S. Professional Tennis Association-certified tennis teaching pro, Coach Pete has coached boys and girls JV tennis at Parkway South High School in Manchester, Missouri for 14 years. He is a mental strength consultant to men’s and women’s college tennis teams and the author of the award-winning book, Mental and Emotional Training for Tennis: Compete-Learn-Honor (Coaches Choice, 2019), which the National High School Tennis Coaches Association called “one of the best books ever on the mental game.” Coach Pete has written and spoken on his Compete-Learn-Honor approach in numerous forums, including podcasts such as the United States Tennis Association’s Compete Like A Champion, EssentialTennis.com, ParentingAces.com, and TennisFiles.com for the Tennis Channel Podcast Network, in USPTA’s ADDVantage Magazine, the Positive Coaching Alliance, and the National Alliance for Youth Sports, and conferences and workshops such as the Missouri Valley USPTA Annual Conference, Portland (OR) Tennis & Education, WeArePicklball.com’s global Pickleball Summit 2021, and the Arizona Tennis Coaches Association Annual Conference. Coach Pete’s column on the mental-emotional game, “The Bench,” appears regularly in Racquet Sports Industry Magazine, the flagship publication of the industry.

Deja Young-Craddock

Deja YoungDeja Young-Craddock
Paralympian, Track & Field

Born with brachial plexus that caused nerve damage and limited mobility to her right shoulder. It was at a college meet that she learned about Paralympic track and field, a path that would lead her to her first Paralympic titles at the Paralympic Games Rio 2016. Served as an athlete mentor as part of the Sports Envoy Program of the U.S. State Department to Nigeria in 2018. She also graduated from Wichita State with a degree in social work. Deja has been a huge advocate for mental health and has been very open with her struggles on and off of the track. She has continued to speak about her struggle in hope to make a difference or even save a life. 

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.

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.