Solon High athletes get schooled in mental health

Teams working with University of Iowa sports and performance psychologist on leadership, confidence and setting realistic expectations

SOLON — Members of the Solon High School girls soccer team are prioritizing their mental health this season, challenging their negative self-talk, making space for mindfulness and supporting each other on and off the field.

Delainey Durr, 15, a freshman, is playing soccer for the first time this year and said there is a “mental toughness” required in the sport. Not only is it physically exhausting, but it can be challenging mentally if another player beats you to the ball or you miss a goal, she said.

The team is a part of a pilot program at Solon High School for student athletes, expanding the focus of the program from physical development to include supporting the mental aspect of competition.

Athletes representing every sport met last Thursday with Mike Berrebi, a sports and performance psychology specialist from University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, to learn about leadership and how to contribute to their teams in a positive ways even if they aren’t playing well.

Leaders and potential leaders on the girls soccer team — including Durr — talked about how while they already feel supported by each other. They said they’re looking forward to learning more strategies and taking those to the rest of the team.

Over the next few months, Berrebi will continue to meet with coaches and student-athletes to teach them relaxation strategies like how to manage their breathing. They also will participate in cognitive behavioral therapy, examining how their thoughts impact how they feel, identifying negative statements and replacing them with positive self-talk, Berrebi said.

“It’s easy to look outward and compare all the time,” Berrebi said. “A track runner was comparing herself to other athletes. I asked her, ‘So you’re telling me they were all freshmen like yourself who came back from an injury six weeks ago? It’s not a fair comparison. You’re running against girls who have more experience and may or may not have been injured. You can only compare yourself to yourself.”

Solon High School soccer player Rose McAtte, 16, knows how mentally challenging it can be to return to a sport after injury. McAtte is back on the soccer field after she broke her foot last fall during the cross-country season and underwent surgery. She’s grateful for teammates who included her in practice — even when she was wearing an orthopedic boot while her foot healed.

Berrebi said in therapy, he works with student-athletes “to improve their confidence and set realistic expectations” — strategies McAtte especially is looking forward to learning, she said.

This is the first time Berrebi has worked with an entire school’s athletic department as a sports psychologist. He predominantly counsels high school students individually on performance anxiety or returning to a sport after an injury.

The effort isn’t about securing more wins for the school, Berrebi and Solon High coaches said.

“I can’t guarantee wins, but the idea is to put yourself in the best position to be successful. Don’t let what’s in between your ears get in the way,” Berrebi said.

Jessica Brimeyer, Solon High girls’ track and field coach, said the skills are “definitely needed.” The techniques they learn will be applicable for life by helping them know “how to deal with pressure and the fear of failure,” she said.

“Some kids go out for track with a goal to develop more confidence. Others might set a goal to place at the state meet,” Brimeyer said.

Solon High football coach Lucas Stanton said this “could be a game changer.” He sees students suffer from social and performance anxiety and said this will teach them tools to cope and be more resilient.

Stanton imagines incorporating a 10- to 15-minute conversation around mental health in to each practice, he said.

Talking about mental health can still be “taboo,” especially in football, Stanton said. More coaches and “leaders of young men” need to talk about how “it’s OK if you’re not OK,” he said.

Comments: (319) 398-8411; [email protected]