Sports & Mental Health Conversations
The Alliance’s Sports & Mental Health Conversations feature long-form interviews with people connected to youth and collegiate sports around Virginia. each conversations features either a member of the Alliance, or someone with valuable insight and expertise on the subject of mental health in sports.
Each conversation aims to further our goals of decreasing the stigma associated with this topic by normalizing the conversation around mental health in sports. Additionally, content pulled from our Sports & Mental Health conversations, helps support our #SportsMentalHealthMonday social media campaign.
If you have ideas for a future sports & mental health conversation, please reach out to Alliance co-chair, Will Driscoll, driscollw@VaSportsHOF.com
Sports & Mental Health Conversation – Jonathan Orr, Samaritan House, July 2024
The Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance presents another Sports & Mental Health Conversation. In this episode we sit down with Jonathan Orr from Samaritan House. One of the programs offered by Samaritan House is “Coaching Boys Into Men” which is targeted male youth athletes, and promotes well-being both on and off the field. In this episode we dive deep into the program and its mental health focus for athletes.
The conversation was hosted by Alliance co-chair, and Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Executive Director, Will Driscoll.
Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance; Sports & Mental Health Conversation – Erin Sutton, June 2024
The Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance hosted a Sports & Mental Health Conversation with Erin Sutton, a student-athlete from Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach Public Schools. The conversation was hosted by Alliance co-chair, and Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Executive Director, Will Driscoll.
Sutton shared her own story in struggling with mental health as a student-athlete, how she overcame those struggles, and where she has seen progress in how mental health is approached in sports.
Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance; Sports & Mental Health Conversation – Pete Allen, May 2024
The Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance hosted a Sports & Mental Health Conversation with Pete Allen, Division Head for Athletics & Special Services for Norfolk Parks & Recreation. Allen is also a former D-I athlete having played wide receive for University of Virginia football.
The conversation was hosted by Alliance co-chair, and Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Executive Director, Will Driscoll. Among the topics discussed were the approach to mental health & wellness now versus his playing days, how we can support mental health & wellness for disadvantaged communities, and the small steps the sports community can take to make big change.
Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance; Sports & Mental Health Conversation – Michael Kennedy, March 2024
The Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance hosted a Sports & Mental Health Conversation with Michael Kennedy, an on-field football official for the American Athletic Conference in NCAA Division-I, and the United Football League for professional football. Kennedy is also the Director of Training for the Southeastern Football Officials (SEFOA) which services all southside Hampton Roads high school and middle school football teams. The conversation was hosted by Alliance co-chair, and Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Executive Director, Will Driscoll. The conversation focused on the role of officials in the sports ecosystem, and how mental health & wellness plays a vital role in their well-being on and off the field.
Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance; Sports & Mental Health Conversation – Ryley van der Velde, February 2024
The Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance hosted a Sports & Mental Health Conversation with Ryley Van Der Velde, Head Field Hockey Coach for Virginia Wesleyan University Field Hockey. The conversation was hosted by Alliance co-chair, and Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Executive Director, Will Driscoll. Among the topics discussed were the role of coaches in creating positive mental health atmosphere, how Van Der Velde uses here educational background in Mental Health Counseling to support her staff and athletes, how coaches can maintain their own mental health when dealing with the pressure to perform.
Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance; Sports & Mental Health Conversation – ODU Athletics, January 2024
The Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance hosted a Sports & Mental Health Conversation with 4 student-athletes from Old Dominion University Athletics. The conversation was hosted by Alliance co-chair, and Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Executive Director, Will Driscoll. Joining Driscoll were: Josi John and Shannon Quaile from ODU Field Hockey, and Brooke Frishman and Emma Rowland from ODU Women’s Lacrosse. The conversation touched on a number of topics including the Morgan’s Message initiative on campus at ODU, how student-athletes are taking control of their mental health & wellness, and the importance of creating a positive atmosphere for not only themselves but the next generation of student-athletes.
Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance – Duncan MacLeod, Mental Performance/Resiliency Coach, November 2023
Duncan MacLeod, Certified in Mental Performance Mastery with Brian Cain, as well as additional certifications in building resilient teams (RBLP-T), temperament and emotional intelligence assessment (Four Lenses), joins Hall of Fame, Executive Director, Will Driscoll, for a discussion on mental health and wellness.
Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance – Rennel Marshall, ODU Athletics and CHKD, August 2023
Rennel Marshall, Athletics Counselor for ODU Athletics, and Outpatient Therapist with the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, joins Hall of Fame, Executive Director, Will Driscoll, for a discussion on mental health and wellness.
Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance – Kiersten Janjigian (CPMC)
Certified Mental Performance Coach (CPMC) Kiersten Janjigian examines how mental performance training can improve how an athlete copes with an injury, loss, or criticism.
Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance – Dr. Joel Brenner, CHKD Sports Medicine
Dr. Joel Brenner, the Director of Sports Medicine at the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, joins Hall of Fame, Executive Director, Will Driscoll, for a discussion on mental health and wellness.
Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance – Matheau “Dupe” Hall, June 2023
Former professional soccer player, Dupe Hall from “Play Your Position”, joins Hall of Fame, Executive Director, Will Driscoll, for a discussion on mental health and wellness.
Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance – Addie Froehlich, May 2023
Addie Froehlich, a senior field hockey player at Cox High School in Virginia Beach, joins Hall of Fame Executive Director, Will Driscoll, for a discussion on mental health and wellness.
Youth Sports Mental Health & Wellness Alliance – Michael Cuddyer, 2018 VSHF Inductee, March 2023
2018 Virginia Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Michael Cuddyer, joins Hall of Fame Executive Director, Will Driscoll, for a discussion on mental health and wellness.
Communication, John Cunningham, HRYF, March 2023
John Cunningham from the Hampton Roads Youth Foundation, join the Hall of Fame Executive Director, Will Driscoll, for a discussion on mental health and wellness, and communication between parents and their student athletes.
Colleges & Universities, Madeline Rudd, ODU Volleyball, February 2023
Madeline Rudd from Old Dominion University Women’s Volleyball, joins Hall of Fame Executive Director, Will Driscoll, for a discussion on Mental Health & Wellness for student-athletes at the collegiate level.
Colleges & Universities, Brandy Gresham, Norfolk State University, February 2023
Brandy Gresham from Norfolk State University Athletics, joins Hall of Fame Executive Director, Will Driscoll, for a discussion on Mental Health & Wellness for student-athletes at the collegiate level.
Colleges & Universities, Dr. Sonja Lund, ODU Athletics, February 2023
Dr. Sonja Lund from Old Dominion University Athletics, joins Hall of Fame Executive Director, Will Driscoll, for a discussion on Mental Health & Wellness for student-athletes at the collegiate level.
Emotional Intelligence, Dr. Andrea Arcona, January 2023
Dr. Andrea Arcona from the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, joins Hall of Fame Executive Director, Will Driscoll, for a discussion on Emotional Intelligence in youth sports.
Youth Sports Mental Health Alliance, Sports & Mental Health Conversations (Full versions) Emotional Intelligence, Chris Panayiotou, January 2023
Chris Panayiotou from Virginia Rush Soccer Club, joins Hall of Fame Executive Director, Will Driscoll, for a discussion on Emotional Intelligence in youth sports.