Using Sport to teach emotional health
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There is a logical, education plan that seeks to lessen anger,
frustration and violence throughout our society through the venue of a
sports team.
By using the existing infrastructure of sports in America that services
30 million children a year, it is possible to teach our young people,
in an educational, science-based way, how to control thoughts, feelings
and behavior, a shorthand definition for emotional health.
In addition, while addressing anger issues, the other topics of today's
society can also be spoken to through sports, such as bullying, hazing,
drug and alchohol abuse, drunk driving, violence against women, and
other issues.
Sport psychology studies mental techniques to enhance performance. Both
cognitive-behavioral and positive psychology study how changes in
thought can help enhance emotional health. When we unite all of these
sciences, we have an opportunity to not only improve our students'
performance on the field of play, but have them practice the mental
skills necessary for successful thinking in any field of endeavor.
All children in any league or school can practice these skills every
day, if we change the model of a sports team from a place of verbal
messages to one where a written science-based curriculum and text for
kids is used. In this way, each coach is responsible for teaching
certain, basic mental skills and the student-athletes know exactly what
they are practicing and why it improves their performance and behavior.
Mitch Lyons
President
GetPsychedSports.org, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation