[jwplayer plag09Ag-XNcErKyb]
While much has been made about the ‘health and safety’ of college football players amid the coronavirus pandemic, the health and safety being spoken about strictly refers to physical health.
But what about their mental health?
President of Barnard College at Columbia University in New York City, Sian Beilock, raises some interesting points in an op-ed in USA TODAY.
Beilock received her Ph.D. in psychology and kinesiology from Michigan State University and has some questions about how the conferences that have shut down their season will see their players react over time. As she notes, it’s not surprising to see them up arms after the Big Ten and Pac-12’s decision, as well as why others, with the threat of having their season canceled, have also made a strong push conversely.
These players, who have spent their lives working towards a goal, similar to any professional in the world, have had the rug pulled out from underneath them. Now, they’re in a crisis of identity — which can lead to more devastating problems.
As the Big Ten and Pac-12 postpone their fall season, football players are speaking out, saying they want to stick to their normal routines and keep playing, in spite of the serious health risks.
Take a closer look at the psychology of these players, and you’ll understand why.
From the time most of these Division I football players were young, they have dedicated themselves fully to their sport. These athletes begin paying football as early as age 6. By college, the average player spends over 43 hours a week on football — between practice, reviewing tapes, team meetings and games. They are also celebrated through school marketing and promotion material. In other words: it’s not ‘just’ about #wewanttoplay and missing being on the field, football is the very basis of who these players are.
So what happens when your whole identity goes under quarantine?
Studies have shown that when life events cause a disruption to our social identity, we are more likely to experience lasting feelings of distress. For some people, social identity — who you are based on your relationship to a group — is the sole marker of who you are. Think, for example, of the high-performing, lawyer or doctor who works 60 to 80 hours a week or other professionals from career tracks highly valued by society. When removed from the daily rigmarole and intensity of their jobs, for example, when folks retire, they often struggle to find purpose and lose sense of who they really are.
Similarly, psychologists have found that when athletes base their identity on their game, they too can lose their sense of self when no longer participating in that sport. This is common among Olympians: Gold medalist swimmers Michael Phelps and Allison Schmidt have been open about their struggles with debilitating depression following the end of their Olympic Games.
This is why we’re seeing the backlash. Ohio State QB Justin Fields put out a petition to reinstate the season on Sunday. Parents of players have spoken out on their behalf. The Big Ten hasn’t even come close to being transparent about its decision-making throughout this process.
Yes, the physical health aspect is a concern, but shouldn’t the mental health component be one as well? At the moment, we don’t know if that’s something these conferences has taken into account.