The Mental Game

SPORTS THE MENTAL GAME

JOILIE HAN | EVAN LU writers

With Simone Biles’ voluntary withdrawal from the Olympics, more light has begun to shine on the mental health of athletes. As high school students start to consider pursuing professional athletic careers and enter more competitive environments, the mental health of athletes becomes a more relevant topic.

Hasti Abassi, a junior on the varsity team for water polo at Cupertino High, says she felt that “as you get more competitive, you start becoming more and more critical of yourself. And no matter how good you perform, you always think, oh, there’s this one thing I could have done better.”

Keeping a healthy balance between physical health and mental health can sometimes be taxing; Ryan Chan, a sophomore who swims and plays water polo for the varsity team at Cupertino High, says, “It’s important for me to recognize when to stop pushing myself so that I won’t burn out and cause my mental health to worsen.” Both athletes noted that wanting to be at their best for everyone unknowingly burned them out. When asked about how they dealt with this problem, Chan and there for one another.” It was amazAbassi said talking to coaches and ing, she said, to watch how “just a being with supportive teammates tiny bit of encouragement and little helped. things teammates did for each other However, when recalling the first were able to improve someone’s day.” time she tried talking with a coach, To both, teamwork is a core aspect of Abassi said, “it’s always hard to admit their respective sports; it was essenthat you’re struggling with something, tial to help your teammates, Abassi especially to someone who you want said, “because when it comes down to always see you at to it [...] you’re your best.” However, only as good as she said, “if you just the worst player get into the habit of it on your team.” [...] it’s really easy to High school talk to your coach.” sports and club

Although the com- ” sports have very petitiveness of sports different dynamcan negatively im- ics, though both pact athletes’ mental can affect an athhealth, both Abassi and Chan saw lete’s mental health. On high school playing water polo as an “escape” sports, Abassi commented, “People from academic stress and their social watching you during your game has life. Though playing sports makes him a positive impact because you have feel frustrated at times, support from your friends who come Chan said, “just being in the water to see you.” However, there was also helps melt away all of the stress going a challenge in having to play with “ IT’S ALWAYS HARD TO ADMIT THAT YOU’RE STRUGGLING WITH SOMEon in my life... [it] makes me calm and peaceful.” They people who had a larger diversity of skill levels. Said Abassi, “I feel like it’s a different form of communica-

THING, ESPECIALLY TO both believed that what tion with everyone in comparison to

SOMEONE WHO YOU made their sport so en- club.” Though high school and club

WANT TO ALWAYS SEE YOU AT YOUR BEST.” HASTI ABASSI joyable was being in a team, especially ones with supportive teammates. Said Abassi, “It’s amazing to see sports may seem similar, the two may impact an athlete’s mental health differently because of the different kinds of pressure. Said Chan, “The way I play [inclub] is different because I how all of our team- feel like I should be at my best at all mates come to support that one per- times.” Both find less pressure placed son [who’s having a bad day] and be on them during high school games

“JUST BEING IN THE WATER HELPS MELT AWAY ALL OF THE STRESS

GOING ON IN MY LIFE... [IT] MAKES ME CALM AND PEACEFUL. ”tsports and club sports have very different dynam-RYAN CHAN

because friends and encouraging teammates surround them.

Whether mentally or physically, every athlete has their own way of keeping themselves healthy. On this, both Chan and Abassi had their own and Abassi had their own tips. Said Abassi, “What I tips. Said Abassi, “What I would do after every single would do after every single practice is write down what practice is write down what I did wrong.” While this I did wrong.” While this may seem toxic to some, may seem toxic to some, Abassi found it helpful. Abassi found it helpful. Said Abassi, “having Said Abassi, “having [...] a plan to deal [...] a plan to deal with my mental with my mental health strughealth struggles made it feel like [they were] easier to were] easier to overcome.”

At Cupertino At Cupertino High, a school High, a school where academwhere academic pressure and ic pressure and stress are extremely prominent, the mental health of athletes can be the last thing on students’ minds. However, many athHowever, many athletes are starting to be letes are starting to be more vocal about the topic. more vocal about the topic. Said Chan, “I think it is important to Said Chan, “I think it is important to be proud of yourself no matter how be proud of yourself no matter how you are doing and to be aware of your you are doing and to be aware of your mental and physical being.” mental and physical being.”