Participating in sports teaches us so much about who we are as humans. The band is back together for a roundtable on athletic identity. People often define who they are by what they do. This is especially true in sports and fitness. Individuals with a strong athletic identity align their daily lives, relationships, and even education with sports. Athletic identity has its positives (e.g., social connection, purpose, leadership) and potential for negative outcomes (e.g., fear of failure, overtraining, body dissatisfaction, and burnout). Coaches and athletes should consider how to build athletic identity and promote positive tools to help athletes cope with adversity in sports, especially for those that are youth, novice, or that are highly specialized. The mental health of athletes is a complex topic. This episode pulls from the literature and adds multiple perspectives from a research and rehab standpoint.
THE GRITTY DETAILS
Athletes who can redefine themselves outside of their sport can maintain better mental health in the midst of injuries and setbacks.
Athletic identity can be so strong that it causes guilt and shame when experiencing adversity in their sport. The positive training environment (i.e., facilities, coaches, and teammates) is critical for reducing negative outcomes of athletic identity.
Everyone has the potential to be an athlete. Improving athletic identity could increase exercise adherence in some sedentary or deconditioned people.
Coaches play an important role on changing the narrative related to athletic identity when it comes to the proper rest, rehabilitation, and recovery process following an injury.
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