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Cohort for Change.Today’s coaches often feel 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 all stakeholders including families, sport system administrators, and most importantly, athletes. These unrealistic expectations placed on a single individual escalate mental wellness challenges for those on the front lines who are leading and inspiring our next generation of great athletes.  As 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.

TrueSport is searching for like-minded individuals to join the 2023-2024 Cohort for Change, who seek to engage in the TrueSport Talks: Mental Wellness and the Modern Coach symposium, receive training on how to implement field-based materials on coach mental wellness, participate in ongoing connection to TrueSport, and support program effectiveness studies through activation of TrueSport resources for both themselves and the athletes they serve.

Join TrueSport and coaches across the nation as we work together to explore and develop mental wellness best practices to better support the development of athletes and mentorship of peers. Help change the culture of youth sport. 

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MEET THE 2024 COHORT
Program Overview
Timeline
Application
Timeline

Program Overview

The Cohort for Change will bring together sport-focused practitioners from across the country to activate TrueSport lessons and resources to not only further the mission of creating a more positive sport experience rooted in mental and physical wellness, but also to create a more mentally well and balanced experience for leaders in sport.

Cohort Coaches will be provided mentorship opportunities with peers (both as a mentor and as a mentee), as well as resources to support in the sharing of strategies and tools with the athlete populations they serve. 

Participants in the Cohort must attend the November 5-7, 2023 trainings and TrueSport Talks Symposium, implement the wellness-centered tools provided to help them prioritize their own wellbeing, teach the TrueSport lessons within their unique sport programs, and provide feedback on their experience. 

We encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds, skillsets, and ability levels to apply. The Cohort will consist of:

  • Coaches (paid or volunteer), physical educators, and/or community program facilitators of young athletes ages 6-18.
  • Individuals who are open-minded, creative, inclusive, and passionate about creating a sport professional space rooted in physical and mental wellness.
  • Coaches in consistent contact with athletes through their sport program for the duration of a season(s).

If selected, participants must:

  • Participate in the Cohort for a minimum of 1-year (November 2023 to November 2024).
  • Complete SafeSport and TrueSport Coaching Education Certification programs, if not already completed.
  • Pass a Background Check
  • Attend in-person the 2023 TrueSport Talks Symposium November 5-6, 2023, in Colorado Springs, Colorado (2-nights Accommodations will be provided. Flight to Colorado Springs will be reimbursed up to $650).
  • Attend in-person the Cohort for Change education and training session on November 7, 2023, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
  • Attend two (2) virtual all-Cohort meetings (April 2024 and October 2024).
  • Participate in two individual calls with the TrueSport team to explore outcomes and trends experienced (Q1 and Q3)
  • Complete a minimum of two mentor-mentee virtual calls during the year.
  • Gather and submit survey data on TrueSport programs/resources to support TrueSport effectiveness study conducted by the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.
  • Provide imagery and video, when permitted, of athletes and/or coaches participating in TrueSport mental wellness education.
  • Be willing to be observed while implementing TrueSport education and resources.

If selected, participants will receive:

  • TrueSport resources and tools for establishing a more mentally well and balanced experience for leaders in sport.
  • TrueSport program lessons and resources that will be reviewed during the Cohort for Change training on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
  • Complimentary access to TrueSport Coach Certification (mandatory)
  • Instructions on how to access SafeSport Certification (mandatory)
  • A network of like-minded individuals passionate about positively impacting the culture of sport.
  • A minimum of two check-ins with the TrueSport team for continued support in implementing and activating the TrueSport program lessons and resources.
  • Bi-annual all-Cohort call to discuss best practices, experiences, outcomes, progress, recommendations, and updates.
  • One visit from a TrueSport Athlete Ambassador to discuss mental wellness with their staff and athletes (based on availability).
  • Recognition of participation through TrueSport’s newsletter, social media platforms, and website.
  • TrueSport gear bag.

Timeline

  • July 20, 2023 - Application opens
  • August 31, 2023 - Application closes
  • August 18-September 1, 2023 – Individual interviews (virtual)
  • September 5, 2023 – Applicants notified of their selection to participate in the 2023/2024 Cohort for Change (pending passing of the background screening)
  • November 5-6 – TrueSport Talks Mental Wellness Symposium in Colorado Springs, CO
  • November 7, 2023 – Cohort for Change education and training sessions in Colorado Springs, CO
  • April 8, 2024 –First bi-annual all-Cohort call
  • October 7, 2024 –Second bi-annual all-Cohort call

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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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The Application period has closed.

Join the TrueSport Network and stay in the know about future Cohort opportunities and receive weekly articles, videos, surveys, updates and more!

Questions about the TrueSport Cohort for Change? Email Audrey Shaw at TrueSport@TrueSport.org.

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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.