GAME ON: TMU MEN’S BASKETBALL COACHES CHAMPION MENTAL HEALTH

Image from ESPN

Written October 2023

Mental health issues are an inherent feature of human life. We all go through difficulties sometimes, and it’s essential to recognize that, although often overlooked, athletes deal with their own set of mental health problems. These can include anxiety, body image issues and mental exhaustion, all of which can directly stem from their participation in sports. While therapists, family and friends can offer invaluable support with these issues, coaches play an essential role in guiding their players through these challenges.

TMU Bold men’s basketball head coach David DeAveiro understands the grind of the season and how that can affect his players. “Through your years of coaching, you’ve done enough time to know the time through your training cycle that kids start to get tired… because of exams or things like that,” DeAveiro said. He spoke to the difficulty of balancing schoolwork and athletic obligations, and how that can weigh heavily on student athletes’ minds. To try to improve students’ well-being through these stressful times, DeAveiro emphasizes rest. “Sometimes a day off, two days off is something they might need because they’re not only physically tired but they’re mentally tired, and rest is good,” he said.

According to the Mental Health Foundation, nearly one in three people with a long-term physical health condition also have a mental health problem. Physical and mental health heavily correlate, and if one is struggling, the other likely will too. TMU men’s basketball assistant coach Moustapha Youssouf spoke to this correlation. “It’s a demanding sport so [burnout] happens when you’re trying to get better,” he said. “It’s just a matter of managing your own body… the same amount of time on the court, you gotta put that back into your recovery as well.”

While the process of recovery can be mentally healing for an athlete, Bismarck State College forward Damion Pearce, who suffered a basketball-related concussion, talked about its difficulty. “[It] sort of messed me up confidence-wise because getting back into it you have to take steps, you can’t just jump back in how you’re used to,” he said.

Above all else, the Bold’s coaching staff emphasizes positive reinforcement. DeAveiro discussed the importance of visualization with players, showing them clips of in-game moments when they were successful, giving them encouragement, telling them to give themselves positive statements. “I’m always trying to push success,” DeAveiro said.

While players like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are revered for their “win at all costs” attitudes, sometimes as an athlete, it’s important to focus on how you feel. Coaches like David DeAveiro believe this too, and the results speak for themselves.