Coaches, Players Discuss Mental Health and Comparison in College Recruiting

As fall term commences, Deerfield athletes return to campus ready for another season. Along with practices, matches and meets, another set of pressures emerge at this time of the year: rigorous academic schedule, limited recovery time and, for many upperclassmen, the college recruitment process

Mental health, therefore, plays a key role in athletic performance. Just as Deerfield athletes are expected to take care of their physical health by resisting colds and other sicknesses, “staying mentally strong and having the ability to be patient through the process of becoming better is [equally] important,” said Assistant Dean of Residential Life Trevon Bryant.

The single most common mental performance hurdle Deerfield athletes face is comparison. “They compare themselves to other athletes and their successes,” Mr. Bryant observed. In addition, he noted that athletes often struggle to find “the ability to stay patient and trust in their skills.” For instance, comparison between Deerfield athletes and others in the recruitment process is common. They “look at stats or how many offers another kid has, and sometimes they even look at a person’s physical development,” Mr. Bryant added.

This comparison can become more noticeable during the recruitment season as athletes feel they are constantly being evaluated. Varsity boys hockey Head Coach Tim McVaugh, who has 19 years of coaching experience, noted many players would often “worry so much about the college process that it would actually negatively impact their play, influencing their chances of playing in college.” 

Mr. McVaugh advised players to “[focus] on what you can control, [because] you can’t control who’s going to be in the rink, who’s going to play.” He added that stressful moments are further exacerbated as athletes get treated differently by their peers.

Mr. Bryant echoed Mr. McVaugh’s observation by suggesting athletes to focus on themselves everyday. He explained, “The reality is that you won’t always show up your best. But within that, you have to give your best every single day. So even if that 70% is all you have for the day, as long as you’ve given that 70%, you’ve given 100% of what you have.”

Other than balancing recruitment process, academics and athletics, having adequate recovery is also an important factor in the mental health of athletes. Harvard womens ice hockey commit Nicole Sciarretta ’28 said she focused on “time management and prioritizing [her] free time and making sure [she] get [her] work done when [she] can.” For Sciarretta, enjoying the sport is as important as the recruitment process. “Make sure you’re always having fun no matter what you’re doing,” she said, highlighting the importance of mental recovery and relaxation in sports.

Mr. Bryant echoed this sentiment, explaining that working hard and enjoying do not necessarily contradict. “Someone’s definition of fun, it could be working hard, right? The day-to-day grind that comes with it. That is the fun,” he said. 

University of Virginia mens lacrosse commit Lucas Ward ’28 shared his athletic journey, mentioning that in order to care for his mental welfare, he would dedicate “an hour every day to socialize with [his] friends” and forget everything around him. This, in his opinion, helped him manage his time without being overwhelmed  by stress. 

Mr. Bryant recommended one habit for all Deerfield athletes: gratitude. He recognized that sports do not last forever, whether that be a result of graduation, injury or a spontaneous end to an athlete’s playing career. Specifically, he underscored the importance of athletes practicing gratitude on a daily basis.