Mental health in sports has been brought into the light by many courageous athletes in recent years. Their moving stories and heartening message that “it’s O.K. to not be O.K.” have inspired millions around the world and have changed the narrative around mental wellness.

But what about the team behind the team? Much like athletes, today’s coaches face increasing pressures to perform 24/7. Studies have shown that mental health is a critical concern for coaches, and a roster of unique pressures is leading to increasing stress levels, mental exhaustion, and burnout. This reality makes it essential that coaches put on their own mental health “oxygen mask” first if they hope to support athlete mental wellness. This intervention is especially important as we quickly approach the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, France.

With all of this in mind, TrueSport, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s (USADA) youth sports outreach program, hosted its third annual TrueSport Talks symposium this week, with a focus on “Mental Wellness and the Modern Coach.” The event built off of the actionable takeaways and evidence-based recommendations from Mental Wellness and the Young Athlete in 2021 and Mental Wellness and the Student-Athlete in 2022. This year, the event was streamed live via NBC Sports Next’s newly launched SportsEngine Play streaming platform.

“Good coaches are such a gift to athletes and sport, but it’s not an easy job and they need support,” said event emcee Kara Winger, 2022 World Athletics Championships silver medalist, North American record holder in javelin, and flag bearer at the Tokyo Olympic Games. “This event showed us all how to prioritize mental wellness for coaches and I’m incredibly hopeful that progress will continue.”

Hosted at the United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum, in collaboration with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and NBC Sports Next, with support from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation, this event featured nationally recognized experts, coaches, and athletes, including:

• Joe Delagrave, PLY – USA Wheelchair Rugby Head Coach and two-time Paralympic medalist
• Jessica Bartley, PsyD – Senior Director of Psychological Services at the USOPC
• Kevin Chapman, PhD – Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the founder of the Kentucky Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders
• Alexander Cohen, PhD – Senior Sport Psychological Services Provider at the USOPC
• Lesley Irvine – Vice President and Director of Athletics at Colorado College

The event began with one simple question: Why does coach mental health matter? 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.

“Having been on both sides of the coach-athlete coin, I can promise you that investing in mental health is worth it,” reflected Delagrave. “I never thought my life would take the turn that it did, and I could’ve gone down a really dark path. But thanks to faith, a strong inner circle, and discipline, I was able to get to where I am today. And I sincerely hope that’s the case for every single athlete and every single coach, no matter their story.”

Following the opening session, Delagrave and Irvine participated in a panel alongside sports leaders from across the country, including Geoff Kelly of Mesa Ridge High School in Colorado Springs, Jim Miller of USA Cycling, and Charron Sumler of The Ohio State University, to discuss how coaches can both “coach hard” and take care of themselves. Additionally, Dr. Cohen shared his insights as a psychological services provider on effective communication strategies that keep mental wellness in mind.

“The next Olympic cycle is upon us, and it will bring both physical and emotional challenges to athletes,” said Dr. Cohen. “We have to be ready to approach these issues head on, and that starts by ensuring coaches are mentally well and ready to support their athletes every step of the way.”

The symposium concluded with breakout sessions led by field experts on how coaches can apply these principles in their everyday lives.

To ensure the next generation is prepared for their own journeys in mental wellness, TrueSport also invited several schools in the Pikes Peak region to our annual community event, “Mindset of a TrueSport Champion” on November 5. During this educational engagement, the NSCA and Children’s Hospital Colorado led attending student-athletes through the practice of building resiliency, with real-time implementation of mental wellness practices alongside several TrueSport Athlete Ambassadors and USADA Athlete Presenters, including:

• Raymond Bunker: USA National Team Member – Wrestling
• Tyler Carter, PLY: Three-time Paralympian – Para Alpine Ski
• Steve Emt, PLY: Two-time Paralympian – Wheelchair Curling
• Carissa Gump, OLY: 2008 Olympian – Weightlifting
• Amobi Okugo: USA National Team Member – Soccer
• Abby Raymond: USA National Team Member – Weightlifting
• Aaron Scheidies, PLY: 2016 Paralympian – Para-Cycling
• Sophia Vitas: 2024 Olympian – Rowing

“We were privileged and honored to bring together coaches, athletes, and industry experts to explore practical solutions that support the mental wellness of coaches,” said Dr. Jennifer Royer, Senior Director of TrueSport & Awareness at USADA. “Over the past two years, we’ve taken tremendous positive steps to support athlete mental health, and it’s important to remember that progress is impacted by every part of the sport community, including coach wellbeing. USADA and TrueSport will continue to support the mental health of the team, as well as the team behind the team, to ensure that sport delivers on its potential to grow thriving individuals and communities.”

With this in mind, TrueSport, the United States Anti-Doping Agency’s (USADA) youth sport outreach program, hosted a free, virtual event titled “Mental Wellness and the Student-Athlete” to address the unique mental health stressors facing student-athletes and chart an evidence-informed path forward with actionable takeaways for youth sport influencers.

“We have to put the person before the student and the athlete, otherwise we are at risk of losing all three,” reminds the event’s keynote speaker Dr. Candice Williams, the Director of Mind Health, and Wellness for the Boston Celtics.

Hosted at the United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum, this second annual TrueSport Talks event featured nationally recognized experts and five current and former student-athletes, including:

• Cailin Bracken – Division I Lacrosse, Vanderbilt University, author of “A Letter to College Sports”
• Geoff Kelly – Division II Basketball, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
• Charley Nordin – 2020 Paralympic Silver Medalist, Division I Rowing and Four-Year Member of Gonzaga University’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee
• Corey Robinson – Emcee; NBC Sports Host & Reporter; Division I FBS Football, Notre Dame
• Allison Schmitt, OLY – Ten-Time Olympic Medalist, Swimming, Division I Swimming, University of Georgia

The five-session event kicked off with Dr. Williams addressing the vital role mental wellness plays in the overall health and happiness of young athletes. Sharing her first-hand experiences and academic insights working with athletes from varied levels of competition, Dr. Williams focused on the normalization of practices that strengthen awareness, reduce stigma, and reframe the discussion around mental fortitude.

“Now that I’ve been through my journey, I’ve realized it’s OK to be vulnerable,” reflected Kelly. “It’s OK not to be OK. Letting myself off the hook a little bit and talking to people has been huge for me. As athletes, we are the light on the top of the hill. You don’t want to look weak or vulnerable. But just like athletes have to figure out how to win the game, we have to figure out how to win at mental wellness.”

Next, student-athletes took the stage to discuss the realities of their mental health challenges and their desire for support and change. This was followed by a series of micro-presentations from a panel of mental health practitioners that considered where sport and academics can do a better job of stepping up to the plate.

“Having the opportunity to speak among such an impressive group of mental health activists has strengthened my passion for this cause immensely,” said Bracken. “Sports have always been about connection — between teammates, fans, communities, and countries. The athlete is the most integral and meaningful part of the equation that creates sports, and USADA truly understands this. This is an exciting start, and I’m so grateful to have been a part of it.”

The event concluded with back-to-back solution-driven sessions in a nod to the student-athlete driven nonprofit, UNCUT, which focused on athlete systems of support and practical guidelines that could drive meaningful change.

To ensure the student-athlete voice is heard loud and clear, TrueSport also invited several schools in the Pikes Peak region to an ancillary event the previous day. During this educational engagement, the Mindfulness and Positivity Project led attending student-athletes through the practices of becoming more mindful, with real-time implementation of mental wellness practices alongside several TrueSport Athlete Ambassadors.

“We were honored to be able to continue building upon the foundations of last year’s incredibly impactful event by helping to illuminate the stories and build off the feedback from an amazing group of student-athletes,” said Dr. Jennifer Royer, Senior Director of TrueSport & Awareness at USADA. “To drive change based on the powerful messages they shared, we will also work with a group of industry experts to develop a recommendations report to better support and maintain youth mental wellness for the long-term. If these efforts gave even one student-athlete the chance for a healthier sport experience, then it was all worth it.”

Today, TrueSport, the United States Anti-Doping Agency’s (USADA) youth sport outreach program, participated in the “Opening Ceremony” for Academy International Elementary School’s (AIES) Reading Olympics, which encourages students to participate in the school’s goal of reading for 150,000 minutes collectively over a two-week period.

While AIES has hosted the event for many years now, this year’s edition is particularly important, as it signifies their first all-school assembly instilling unity and excitement for learning after two years of remote learning. The event featured 2018 Olympic silver medalist Chris Mazdzer, who is a TrueSport Athlete Ambassador. The four-time Olympic luger joined AIES students to share inspiring stories about working towards a challenging goal. Much like what the students will have to do to reach their expectations, Chris also has had to practice goal setting, perseverance, teamwork, and integrity.

“As an athlete, I believe it’s important to give back to the next generation,” said Mazdzer. “I love these types of interactions because it allows me to take the lessons sport has taught me and share them. AIES does an excellent job helping young people set and reach challenging goals, like the lofty reading goals this year. That practice will certainly set them up for success today and far into the future!”

Born in Massachusetts, Chris got his start in luge at just 8 years old. Twenty years later, Chris made history by becoming the first American athlete to win a medal in the Men’s Single Luge event. Off the track, he competed on season 26 of Dancing with the Stars and is widely regarded as a team leader. He currently chairs the International Luge Federation Athlete Commission and sits on the executive board of USA Luge.

In previous years, TrueSport Athlete Ambassadors Kara Winger, Tyler Carter, Jimmy Moody, and Veronica Day have all participated in the kickoff celebration assembly.

“The spirit of this competition keeps students engaged for the two-week reading challenge,” explained Laura McNally, principal of AIES. “It instills a love of learning at a young age while also exercising their mind on a daily basis.”

“It’s moments like these that give me goose bumps: having the most elite athletes in the world show vulnerability and humanity through sharing their personal experiences with tomorrow’s young leaders.” said Audrey Shaw, TrueSport Outreach Education Program Lead. “They truly inspire and show young people that anything is possible if they set their mind to it. We at TrueSport are very grateful for our long-standing relationship with AIES and look forward to the Reading Olympics every year for this exact reason.”

For more information, please visit: https://academyinternational.asd20.org/ and http://truesport.org/.

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About Academy International Elementary School

AIES is one of 25 elementary schools in Academy District 20 and is in North Colorado Springs. The school first opened in 1998 as the first International Baccalaureate School with the Primary Years Program in the Americas. Among the school’s unique opportunities, students in grades 1-5 can participate in the  partial-French Immersion program, allowing them to learn math, science and some social studies in French.

About TrueSport

The TrueSport mission is simple and bold: to change the culture of youth sports by providing powerful educational tools to equip young athletes with the resources to build life skills and core values for success on and off the field. Powered by the experience and values of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency – the country’s most trusted guardian of sports integrity – TrueSport supports athletes, coaches, and parents by partnering with sport organizations throughout the country to promote a positive youth sports experience. Working alongside experts in a wide range of fields, TrueSport provides evidence-based programs reflective of the Olympic spirit and dedicated to promoting positive values in youth sport.

For the tenth straight year, TrueSport was invited to share its curriculum at the USAFA camps to help athletes from around the country learn what it means to be a TrueSport champion. This week, Emt and TrueSport focused on perseverance with the young campers. Emt referenced his own experiences to explain that hard work is valuable regardless of the outcome, and that even in failure, there is opportunity for growth.

“Everything I do in my life now is a result of programs like TrueSport,” said Steve Emt, TrueSport Athlete Ambassador. “Our job is to educate. Anywhere in the country, we’ll try to get out there and give these athletes the traits they need to be successful on and, more importantly, off the court. Sports are a huge part of our lives, so it’s easy for us to go out and teach TrueSport values, because we live them every day.”

From a small town in Connecticut to college basketball at the University of Connecticut to West Point to a devastating automobile accident to being a two-time U.S. Paralympian, Steve has been through more than most people. But he is not like most people. He has overcome all the adversities with which he has been faced to become a successful athlete and educator, empowering people of all ages around the world to become the hero of their own life.

Emt presented to athletes in the baseball, girls’ basketball, fencing, tennis, and volleyball camps. Fellow TrueSport Athlete Ambassadors Abby Raymond and Tyler Carter also spoke to athletes during the first week of the camp, as TrueSport is priming this next generation of leaders with skills for success on and off the field.

“Athletes like Steve Emt and the Air Force Academy campers are what solidify the foundation of TrueSport’s mission,” said Audrey Shaw, TrueSport Outreach Education Program Lead. “The long term impacts these brief educational seminars have on the campers’ overall understanding and acknowledgement of the values they’re learning through sport is immeasurable and allows the next generation of young leaders to practice living by their values.“

For more information, please visit: TrueSport.org and AFA Sports Camps.

Crossover for Change is a Colorado-based nonprofit founded in the spring of 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization aspires to promote leadership and life lessons through sport education and enhance self-esteem and confidence for young Ugandan women. Due to gendered expectations in Uganda, girls find it challenging to remain in school or pursue a career, and their exposure to life lessons through sport is limited. The founders of Crossover for Change – former Colorado Springs high school students– have vowed to change that status quo.

“As current and former athletes, Crossover for Change understands that access to sports helps to support the development of well-rounded young people by fostering leadership and problem-solving skills,” said Veronica Day, Crossover for Change Chair. “We worked closely with a teacher and local connection, Dennis Katungye, to create a program that would have the most impact. These young women were curious and hungry for information, and I am hopeful that we were a spark in their long developmental journey to becoming future Ugandan leaders.”

As TrueSport Athlete Ambassadors, both Day and Mbionwu led educational sessions with the young Ugandan female students around the topics of nutrition, hydration, body image, goal setting, and teamwork. These topics and the related activities reflect TrueSport’s ongoing and expanding efforts to develop young athletes who are physically and mentally well.

Globally, TrueSport’s vision is to help foster an environment where young athletes feel empowered, encouraged, and confident in their ability to become the best versions of themselves both on and off the field of play. Day and Mbionwu have been longtime advocates for equitable access to sports for girls/women, making this partnership with Crossover for Change an unmissable opportunity to support in the holistic wellbeing and development of young female athletes.

Day is a former Team USA Skeleton athlete and NCAA Division 1 track and field athlete. After a nine-year career with USA Bobsled & Skeleton that included a National Push Championship, North American Cup overall title, and four U.S. National Teams, she hung up her brush spikes and now works for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. A native of Nigeria, Mbionwu is a Team USA Netball player and current USA Netball team captain who is also studying to become an oral and maxillofacial radiologist.

“This opportunity has shown that sports and friendship have no boundaries,” said Kate Griffin, Crossover for Change Vice-Chair. “Everyone involved with Crossover for Change understands the impact sports have on our lives. After meeting and working with the girls in Uganda, I have faith that they too see how valuable sports and education are and that they will use the basketball skills and life lessons we shared with them to achieve their goals.”

In addition to co-founding Crossover for Change, Kate Griffin was a five-sport athlete during her high school career, as well as a National Honor Society student and active member of her community. She is now continuing her education at Denison University, where she competes on the varsity golf team (all-conference first team honors), is involved with the Denison Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and is a Dean’s list student.

For more information, please visit: https://www.crossoverforchange.org/, http://www.maryhillug.net/, https://immaculateheartgirls.org/, and http://truesport.org/.

With our youth finally back to school after two years of virtual learning, this event encouraged them to practice bike safety, enjoy the journey to school, and reconnect with their community. During this event, 2022 Winter Paralympics Team USA Opening Ceremony Flag Bearer and TrueSport Athlete Ambassador Tyler Carter educated at least 20 students on the values of goal setting, perseverance, and accountability before joining the bike ride himself. He was also joined by Audrey Shaw, TrueSport’s Outreach Education Program Lead, and Tessa Muir, USADA’s Acting Director of Olympic and Paralympic Programs.

“I rode my bike to school when I was a kid and it was cool to come full circle today and give back a little bit,” said Carter. “I’m a huge proponent of [healthy living], so being able to work with TrueSport is a huge honor to continue that in a different role.”

Tyler “TC” Carter is a three-time Paralympian and recently retired member of the United States Paralympic Alpine Ski Team. He lost his right leg below the knee at the age of one due to a congenital condition known as Fibular Hemimelia, which means he was born without the fibula bone. Not letting this deter him, he participated in various sports and activities while growing up, including basketball, swimming, tennis, dance, and karate. He eventually found his true calling in the form of alpine skiing. Thanks to a combined effort from the Pennsylvania Center for Adapted Sports and the National Sports Center for the Disabled, Tyler fell in love with skiing and quickly moved up in the standings. After being awarded a scholarship to attend and spectate the 2010 Vancouver Paralympic Games, a dream was formed to compete at the Games and represent Team USA. Four years later, Tyler earned his chance when he was named to the 2014 United States Paralympic Team that would compete in Sochi, Russia. He has since competed in both the 2018 and 2022 Winter Paralympics, the latter of which he served as one of the two Team USA flag bearers for the Opening Ceremony.

“We were so excited to be down at Boulder Park with Columbia Elementary and Kids on Bikes to celebrate National Bike to School Day,” said Shaw. “It’s important for kids to have outlets like sports and recreational activities because it gives them a community they can turn to in times of struggle and challenges. And it’s also just a fun way to involve the entire family in something active.”

“[The turnout] was amazing,” said Mark Schenberger, Director of Programs at Kids on Bikes. “It’s great to get out and be physically healthy. Studies show you can perform better on tests if you’re riding your bike [to school], and it really just helps kids mature too.”

After a challenging two years, now more than ever, our young people need role models who inspire them to take shots in life and rebound when they miss. During this three-day camp (March 21, 23, and 25), three-time wheelchair basketball Paralympic medalist and TrueSport Athlete Ambassador Trevon Jenifer educated students on the values of sportsmanship and goal-setting and also provided some coaching during a basketball skills and drills session. TrueSport additionally guided students through a STEM project that tested the sugar content of beverages and a tower building activity to challenge their ability to strategize as a team. Cambio Yoga, Colorado Springs’ first donation yoga studio, was also onsite to host a mindfulness session.

“It was great getting out there this week with the kids,” said Jenifer. “I always love giving back to the community and inspiring the next generation. I hope they took away from it that no matter what obstacles they face in life, with perseverance and hard work, they can achieve their dreams.”

Trevon ‘Trey’ Jenifer was born without legs due to a rare disease called Congenital Phocomelia. With the encouragement and backing of his stepfather growing up, Trey competed in wheelchair track, wheelchair basketball, and wrestling. He attended Edinboro University of Pennsylvania where he earned a degree in criminal justice with a minor in sociology and was a member of the wheelchair basketball team. Afterwards, he played professional wheelchair basketball in France, joined the US Men’s National Team in 2010, and is now a three-time Paralympic medalist – winning bronze in 2012 and gold in 2016 and 2020. Trey is a proud father of two young children and is an active member of his community, volunteering as the assistant coach for the Edinboro University Wheelchair Basketball team. He enjoys engaging with audiences of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences on the topics of perseverance, bullying prevention, adaptive/disability awareness, and the Paralympic movement. You can learn more about Trey through his autobiography titled, “From the Ground Up.”

“Camps like these are important because the kids now have access to a network of people who are looking to really focus on their whole person development, not just the x’s and o’s that they’ll experience on the court,” said Audrey Shaw, TrueSport’s Outreach Education Program Lead.

TrueSport – the outreach education arm of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) dedicated to transforming the culture of youth sport – and Discovery Education today announce a partnership providing powerful educational tools to equip students with resources that help build life skills and core values for success on and off the field of play. Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place.

The partnership has produced The Mindset of a TrueSport Champion Town Hall, which premieres February 1 at 1 PM ET in time for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. In an engaging 24-minute video, students meet with Olympic, Paralympic, and Team USA athletes to explore how the values of sportsmanship, character building & life skills, and clean & healthy performance drive their success in both athletics and life. Included in the Town Hall are Team USA weightlifter Abby Raymond, wheelchair basketball Paralympian and three-time medalist Trey Jenifer, and Olympic boxing silver medalist Richard Torrez, Jr. Learn more about The Mindset of a TrueSport Champion Town Hall and register here.

“The lessons and values learned through sport prepare young people to be more successful now, and in the future. The Mindset of a TrueSport Champion Town Hall is designed to inspire students, educators, coaches, and families to reflect on their choices and core values so that youth sport is about more than just winning,” said Dr. Jennifer Royer, the Senior Director of TrueSport and Awareness at USADA. “With Discovery Education as a partner, we are thrilled to take our mission of transforming the culture of youth sport through education even further.”

Accompanying digital materials created by Discovery Education’s expert curriculum and content team includes an instructional educator guide designed for any learning environment, as well as a guide for coaches and parents. The Mindset of a TrueSport Champion Town Hall and the resources are available at TrueSport.org and on Discovery Education’s K-12 learning platform.

The Mindset of a TrueSport Champion Town Hall is part of a series of virtual events, including Virtual Field Trips that engage students and support educators. Every month, Discovery Education adds hundreds of new resources—from ready-to-use activities to immersive videos and Virtual Field Trips to podcasts and curated channels found in the flexible K-12 platform. Each resource is culturally authentic, reflects the diversity of today’s world, and includes embedded supports, such as closed captioning, text-to-speech, and language translations.

“With TrueSport’s leadership in changing the lives of kids across the country, we are thrilled to show the connection between sports and school. The upcoming Town Hall is a fascinating opportunity to explore the critical life skills all students need by hearing how today’s Olympic, Paralympic, and Team USA athletes prepare for success,” said Beth Meyer, Vice President of Social Impact at Discovery Education.

For more information about Discovery Education’s digital resources and professional learning services, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Twitter and LinkedIn.

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About TrueSport
The TrueSport mission is simple and bold: to change the culture of youth sports by providing powerful educational tools to equip young athletes with the resources to build life skills and core values for success on and off the field. Powered by the experience and values of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency – the country’s most trusted guardian of sports integrity – TrueSport supports athletes, coaches, and parents by partnering with sport organizations throughout the country to promote a positive youth sports experience. Working alongside experts in a wide range of fields, TrueSport provides evidence-based programs reflective of the Olympic spirit and dedicated to promoting positive values in youth sport.

About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the worldwide EdTech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 140 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading EdTech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

Contacts
Grace Maliska | Discovery Education | gmaliska@discoveryed.com
Betsy Douglass | TrueSport | bdouglass@USADA.org

Mental wellness has occupied global headlines over the last couple of years, including Tuesday’s youth mental health advisory issued by the Surgeon General. Yet, for young athletes and their support networks, the roadmap to navigate such challenges is often unclear.

TrueSport and USADA welcome some of the most relevant voices in this space to begin to chart a prompt and practical path forward to empower young athletes, families, and coaches to reduce stigma and build resilience through sport.

The event features Olympic, Paralympic, and elite athletes, as well as nationally recognized experts, participating in discussions on important topics that coaches, parents, and educators encounter in their everyday environments.

“It is an honor for TrueSport to bring together so many inspiring athletes and experts for this critical event,” said Dr. Jennifer Royer, Senior Director of TrueSport & Awareness at the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. “Normalizing conversations around mental health for and with our young people is a major step toward finding solutions for the challenges our young athletes often face.”

“The rich dialogue presented here outlines pathways for coaches, families, and sport and educational leaders to help support children and adolescents in developing greater capacity and resilience in the management of their mental health. We are thrilled to join our colleagues in sport to produce and share those resources to support the next generation in their pursuit of healthy and fair competition.”

The day kicks off with a presentation titled “The Mental Game” through a joint effort between TrueSport and the Lyles Brothers Sports Foundation. Track and field athletes Josephus and Noah Lyles will speak to more than 100 area high school student athletes and share tangible tips on how students could begin to practice their mental game and the role mental wellness plays in their experience.

Following the Lyles’ session, athletes and experts are taking part in four virtual discussions, where they discussed their own mental health experiences, frameworks for supportive sporting environments, action steps needed to build and maintain engagement within sports communities, and the necessary responses to support young athletes in their mental wellness practices.

Among the 14 speakers are nationally recognized TrueSport Experts and elite, Olympic, and Paralympic athletes, including:

• Kevin Chapman, Ph.D.: Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Founder Kentucky Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, TrueSport Expert
• Deborah Gilboa, M.D.: Board-Certified Family Physician, Founder AskDoctorG.com, TrueSport Expert
• Gracie Gold, OLY: Figure Skating Olympic Bronze Medalist (2014 Sochi)
• Josephus Lyles: Track & Field Sprinter
• Noah Lyles, OLY: Track & Field Olympic Bronze Medalist (2020 Tokyo)
• David Plummer, M.Ed., OLY: Swimming Olympic Gold Medalist (2016 Rio), USADA Board Member
• Deja Young-Craddock: Track & Field Paralympic Gold Medalist (2016 Rio)

Both virtual and in-person attendees will leave the conference equipped with evidence-based insights and actionable next steps. For additional support, TrueSport is proud to offer a mental health toolkit featuring articles, videos, and other resources.

“The youth is so incredibly important and starting this conversation early will not only set them up for success within sport but also in life,” Paralympic gold medalist Deja Young-Craddock noted. “Mental health is not linear, and it is important to continue to have these conversations so that we are able to provide a healthy environment within sport for the youth.”

About TrueSport

The TrueSport mission is simple and bold: to change the culture of youth sports by providing powerful educational tools to equip young athletes with the resources to build life skills and core values for success on and off the field. Powered by the experience and values of USADA – the country’s most trusted guardian of sports integrity – TrueSport supports athletes, coaches, and parents by partnering with sport organizations throughout the country to promote a positive youth sports experience. Working alongside experts in a wide range of fields, TrueSport provides evidence-based programs reflective of the Olympic spirit and dedicated to promoting positive values in youth sport.