Psychologist offers helping hand to athletes

CAITLIN LANGLEY STAFF WRITER CEL722@CABRINI.EDU

Supportive and encouraging are two words that best describe the new intern sports psychologist, Joseph Webb. His office is full of supportive elements: a pennant here, a "Go Cavs!" there. The window overlooking the Dixon Center parking lot is filled with words that would make any Cavalier feel the pride. He has a schedule of all the fall sports and is looking forward to the winter _and spring sports.

Webb works with athletes to help them with their game, but, "In the process have fun doing it." He comes to some of the practices of the teams and if the team. responds well he will come to the games for moral support. While at the women's volleyball game, he could be found right next to the head coach chanting supporting words of encouragement and clapping for the players. He often pulled individual players aside and gave them ways to improve their game.

Jen Scapellati, a sophomore English communication major on the volleyball team, said, "He cares about the well being of the team, and is enthusiastic." Another team member, Kristen Boone, said, "Not only does he care about our physical well being but he motivates us as well." The women feel that he is a vital element to their team and enjoy his support.

The intern is here on campus two nights a week, Monday and Wednesday for two hours, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. His office is located in the Dixon Center. Webb is taking two classes at Temple Graduate School as part of his masters degree in sports psychology and thinking about Penn State for his doctorate.

Webb was a swimmer in high school and also in his college years. His experience with sports is in swimming but he says he can help everyone, in fact he actually prefers to work with people that are not in the same sport because, "then you tend to give them pointers on how to win the race instead of how to improve their performance."

Webb's services include heightening your performance with different techniques. He also emphasizes group or team activities because the better the team is with its inter- team relationships, the better the team. He suggests things that will help one with their sport. Webb offers services to more than just the athletes in that the techniques one learns from Webb can be taken into the professional world as well.

When given an on- the-