Lammers 1

Carsyn Lammers

English 1201

Prof. Kretzer

2 May 2021

The Two Sides of Athletes and Their Sports: Mental and Physical

When the average person thinks of sports, they often picture strong, competitive,

individuals of all ages working towards a common goal of victory and satisfaction. When asked

to picture the perfect athlete, the typical person imagines someone who is known for their hard

work, love of sports, and helping others. However, there is one question that comes to mind

when considering these polar opposite experiences in athletics: how do sports both negatively

and positively influence its players on a physical and psychological level? Anyone is able to see

and understand that sports can be a positive experience for one, and a traumatizing event for

another. Using further research on the mental states of multiple athletes, the current status of the

sports industry, the effect sports have on the brain, and the early development of children in

sports, it can be determined that sports are both beneficial and negatively impactful to athletes.

Sports have been known to allow its players to gain mental toughness and social skills, but sports

and the industry have also caused some athletes to develop generalized anxiety disorder, as well

as having to deal with the risk of sexual abuse and earning little pay. Whether an athlete views

sports as positive or negative depends on the person, their mental threshold, their experiences in

sports, and if they find sports enjoyable.

When digging deeper to determine what makes sports beneficial for one and harmful for

another, a person must consider the practice of sports psychology and when it began. To begin,

research of sports psychology became more in depth in the 19th century. The first American
 Lammers 2

sports psychology laboratory was created in 1925 by Coleman Griffith, but was later shut down

due to a lack of interest which proved a slow start in the field. One of the first experiments

conducted in sports psychology was at the University of Stanford where psychologists worked to

determine how to get an entire football offense to move in unison. The researchers used a

specific ball and string to measure the quickness of the athletes. (Baker, Dr. David B. and Joyce,

Nick) Today, many psychologists use more technologically advanced equipment such as virtual

reality, psychotherapy, and neurofeedback to conduct certain experiments and better understand

elite athletes. Sports psychology and psychiatry has come a long way, and there is little chance of

it slowing down. Not only are researchers working to better assist athletes physically, but they

are also searching for ways to ease their mental health issues by using therapy and brain scans. It

is because of these many discoveries in the field of psychology, that athletes now have the

resources to access and better understand their mental health.

For many years, sports have been seen as a positive way for children to socialize with

others and learn certain lessons and skills. Children beginning to play sports at a young age are

taught to develop self esteem, social skills, how to accept defeat, how to maintain discipline, and

teamwork. When it comes to developing self esteem, both receiving words of encouragement,

and high fives from fellow teammates can boost self confidence in children. Also, the use of

constructive criticism teaches children to accept their weaknesses and be proud of their strengths.

One of the most important aspects of putting children in sports is that they will develop crucial

social skills. Sports give children opportunities to make friends and improve their

communication skills, which will also be useful for them later in life. The respect and discipline

learned from sports can be used in adult situations such as job interviews and speeches. Learning

to accept defeat is also an important skill children learn from athletics. Sports teach children
 Lammers 3

good sportsmanship, and to accept defeat when necessary. Good sportsmanship is a valuable

lesson to learn because it teaches children to treat others how they would like to be treated as

well. When discussing how sports teach children to maintain discipline, researchers have

discovered that “sports teach children to accept orders and self restraint,” (Mahaseth). This is

also a valuable lesson that is useful in adult life. Finally, playing sports as a child allows children

to learn teamwork. People work with others throughout their entire lives, and sports gives

children a headstart on this adult skill early on. Children will learn how valuable they are on a

team as well as how others bring valuable skills to the table. Overall, these five social skills are

extremely beneficial to children because all five of these lessons are used later on in life. These

five skills are just one reason as to why sports are mentally beneficial.

Not only are sports mentally beneficial, they also provide many physical health benefits.

Participating in sports reduces the risk of obesity, increases endurance, and increases overall

health. When it comes to reducing the risk of obesity, researchers recommend people get at least

150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each day. (“6 Reasons why Team Sports are Good

for Your Health”) By participating in sports, athletes are meeting and even exceeding this health

requirement everyday which most definitely promotes being physically healthy. By completing

the 150 minutes of exercise each day, athletes are more likely to lose weight or maintain a stable,

healthy weight which is much more difficult for those not involved in sports. Also, researchers

have also seen an increase of endurance in those who play sports. Constant physical activity

builds cardiac strength, builds bone density, and increases muscle mass; all of which contribute

to a longer life expectancy. Finally, sports also increase your overall health. As mentioned in the

previous sentence, playing sports extend life expectancy, but the physical activity required when

playing sports also prevents chronic diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease. (“6
 Lammers 4

Reasons why Team Sports are Good for Your Health”) Finding the right sport to play, whether

that is a highly competitive game of basketball, or a leisurely round of cornhole, staying active

through sports will most definitely benefit a person. Overall, playing sports provides many

physical health benefits which strengthens the argument that people should be encouraged to

play sports.

Many believe that playing sports are beneficial to all people, and sports are one of the

greatest joys of life. However, this is not true for all players. For example, a Chinese study

revealed, after testing a group of elite college athletes, that 22 percent of the athletes showed

signs of generalized anxiety disorder. (Li 1) These test results not only proved that sports can

have a negative impact on the mental health of athletes, but it also specified what exactly the

athletes are at risk of. Generalized anxiety disorder affects thousands of people each year, and

athletes should most definitely not be pushed to developing this disorder simply due to playing a

sport. Rather than feeling a sense of panic when shooting a free throw, serving a volleyball, or

sticking the landing in gymnastics, athletes should feel confident in their skills. Sports should be

used as a way to escape everyday anxieties in life, not be the cause of them. Engaging in athletics

is meant to be fun, and teach athletes valuable lessons, not push them to the point of developing a

crippling mental disorder.

Not only do sports put collegiate athletes at a higher risk of developing generalized

anxiety disorder, but they can also have a negative impact on the mental health of children just

beginning to play sports. Children can begin to play sports around the age of 4, so it is extremely

important that they are legitimately having fun while playing, not just playing for the sake of the

parents. When putting children in sports, there are multiple outside stressors that can trigger a

high level of anxiety. Some of these stressors include the great amount of pressure put on
 Lammers 5

athletes from coaches and parents, having a lack of free time, and losing the love kids once had

for sports. (Teenshealth) At a young age, it is extremely important for parents to ensure their

children are having fun while playing sports because it can alter their interests later in life.

Putting a child in sports rather than allowing them to explore other interests such as art and

music may change what they become interested in later on in life. Allowing kids to compete

always comes with a small amount of stress, but an excessive amount of it can become

overwhelming especially for a child. They will no longer look at sports as a fun way to compete

and make friends, but a terrifying situation that causes them an excess amount of stress.

For those who genuinely enjoy playing sports, the year 2020 is one to remember. The

global pandemic of COVID-19 took a major hit to athletes and the sports industry, causing

unprecedented amounts of depression in athletes and loss of money for the industry. After

dealing with cancellation after cancellation, a questionnaire was sent out to 310 athletes of

different countries to determine the mental affects the pandemic has had on them regarding the

loss of sports. Losing the ability to train in suitable environments and participate in the sport

these athletes have played their entire lives resulted in mental states similar to what they would

experience during times of injury. (Leguizamo 1) This study clearly illustrates the love and sense

of belonging some athletes feel when playing sports. After experiencing such a great deal of loss,

it is obvious how positive and necessary sports are for some. Sports become a sort of personality

trait for those who participate throughout their entire lives. When considering the effects of

COVID-19 on youth sports, the mental health of young athletes was hampered as well. An article

by CB Sports in Canada found that, “ 78 percent of parents who say the pandemic has had a

strong impact on their kids' participation in sport report that child as feeling lonely,” (“Young

Athletes’ Mental Health Hampered by Community Sport Cancellations in Pandemic”). 78

percent is an extremely high number that shows how valuable sports are to young children. This

statistic further drives home the point that sports allow children to develop a social life, and due

to the cancellation of sports, children are losing that valuable time in their lives to make friends

and gain social skills.

COVID-19 also forced the sports industry to take a heavy hit. For example, “The

NCAA’s cancellation of last season’s Division I men's basketball tournament because of the

COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a $600 million annual decline,” (Berkowitz 1). The NCAA is a

billion dollar company on its own. After considering other world and national organizations such

as FIFA, the NBA, MLB, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the amount of money lost due to

COVID-19 is astronomical. These statistics have nothing to do with the mental or physical

effects that sports have on athletes, but they show how powerful and vast the sports industry is.

Not only did COVID-19 cause a higher rate of depression in athletes, but it also impacted the

entire world’s sports industry in a negative way, causing the public to take a closer look into how

much society revolves around sports. One of the biggest and most popular sporting events known

around the world is the Olympics. Due to COVID, the 2020 summer games were postponed to

the summer of 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. As many can imagine, Tokyo took a major financial hit

after being forced to postpone the cherished games. To be more specific, postponing the games

has already cost Japan a whopping $2.7 billion. However, Japan’s National Audit Board has

estimated the real total cost to be around $22.3 billion. (Bruton) The Olympics themselves cost a

great deal of money, as many people would already imagine. But, a total price tag for any

Olympics has never been so high. It is due to people’s love of sports and competition that many

countries, including Japan, are willing to do whatever it takes to get things back to normal.
 Lammers 7

Many people will argue that when considering the large net worth of college sports

industries, such as the NCAA, that college athletes are ridiculously underpaid. In fact, for their

hard work, commitment, and long hours practicing, college athletes are not paid a dime. One

example of this rather disgusting act is the statistic that the NCAA earned $900m while $9.2b

was gambled on the outcome of March Madness. (Abdul-Jabbar) The NCAA is a non profit

organization that should be looking out for the best interest of its athletes, but it instead uses the

athletes to make a quick dollar. $900 million would make a huge difference to the athletes

committing their lives to sports, but instead they receive nothing in return. Most people would

turn a blind eye to this statistic thinking, “what’s the big deal?” or “that’s just how it works,” but

NBA champion and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is

speaking out against the NCAA and how poorly they treat athletes. Abdul-Jabbar states, “that

some student-athletes watch their coaches receive high salaries and bonuses while they cannot

afford to feed themselves and are prohibited from getting jobs.” The author makes an excellent

point that the coaches are even treated better than the athletes. The only reason companies such

as the NCAA are successful is because of the hard work of athletes. It is time that the NCAA

owns up to its mistakes, and gives the athletes what they deserve. Many athletes work their entire

lives to be the best in their sport and compete at a Division 1 level, so it is only fair that athletes

be rewarded for their hard work that most people are too afraid to do. Many athletes continue to

play in college because they have a passion for the game, the last thing they want is to be

manipulated. The sports industry can be more than toxic, and if something is not done soon, will

the athletes finally say they’ve had enough?

The sports industry is obviously powerful with the ability to make changes for good, but

there have also been many instances where the sports industry has had a negative effect on
 Lammers 8

people, especially women. To be more specific, an Oregon redshirt sophomore, Sedona Prince,

spoke out about the lack of weights and equipment provided for the women's NCAA basketball

tournament. Price recorded a single rack of dumbbells that was provided for all the women’s

teams in the tournament to use while also showcasing the over the top, high tech, expensive,

men’s weight room equipped with multiple sets of the same machines. After drawing attention to

this issue, many companies such as Orangetheory and Dick’s Sporting Goods, jumped in to

provide the women’s teams with the weight room they deserve. (Sullivan 1) The NCAA is one of

the largest and most successful non profit organizations in the world, so there is absolutely no

reason the organization should not have given the women the proper weight room they deserve.

For the NCAA to place the excuse of a weight room at the facility of the women’s tournament,

there would have been multiple people having to approve this decision. There were officials,

presidents, moving companies, and athletic trainers, but none of these people felt the need to

speak up on this issue. The weight room made the headline of several news stories, was featured

on Twitter, and got thousands of people talking. This event is in fact more embarrassing for the

NCAA than anyone else. Even after many players and coaches discovered the issue, the NCAA

was not even the one to correct the problem. It is thanks to Orangetheory, Dick’s Sporting

Goods, and several others that the women later got what they deserved. The sad thing is the

NCAA will not lose any viewers or money due to the situation because of its massive presence

on television all around the world. Rather than being known for making collegiate athletes'

dreams come true, the organization will be known for discriminating against women. This is just

one example of the sports industry mistreating women, so when is enough going to be enough?
 Lammers 9

This image depicts the women’s weight room provided for the NCAA basketball tournament

(left) and the men’s weight room. (Moorwood)

When going back to some of the benefits of playing sports, there are not only mental

benefits, but physical ones as well. The brain is a very complex, delicate system, and it reacts

very differently to certain situations. It has been found that both watching and playing sports can

improve brain function. To be more specific, participating and watching sports affects the neural

networks regarding language in the brain. Most people who enjoy sports become extremely

invested in the competition and the feeling of accomplishment. Even less demanding sports

people can play for a lifetime such as tennis, badminton, cornhole, bowling, and many others

have the same positive reaction in the brain.Participating and watching sports affect the brain in

more ways than one. Participating in sports allows people to burn off the stress hormone

adrenaline, which can promote relaxation. (“National Fitness and Sports Month: How Playing

Sports Affect Your Brain”) Oftentimes too much adrenaline causes high levels of stress and

forces people to feel on edge. While participating in sports causes some to feel anxious, they can
 Lammers 10

also be a positive thing for those looking to reduce stress. Sports can be played and enjoyed for a

lifetime, and they provide a sense of escape for many people, both physically and mentally.

To conclude, sports can be viewed as both a positive and negative thing. Both playing

and watching sports are some of the most popular activities in the world, and the world would be

a completely different place without them. It has been shown that sports can be extremely

beneficial for young kids, teaching them important lessons such as teamwork and perseverance,

but some of those who continue to play sports for a long time develop crippling anxiety and

depression. So what makes sports a positive thing for one person and not the other? It simply

depends on their mental threshold, their experiences in sports, and if they find sports enjoyable.

The industry also does not give sports a good look, due to the many controversial actions taken

place. Rather than blaming the action of sports for damaging the mental health of athletes, people

should be blaming the industry while also looking at the root of the problem. Oftentimes sports

get a bad reputation for no reason. When looking to determine if sports would be a positive thing

for a person, they should not be afraid to go for it, but playing sports should not be continued

when they no longer become fun. Oftentimes when sports become a negative thing, people have

been playing for so many years that sports have almost become a personality trait and a crutch. It

is important to only participate in sports if a person truly enjoys the game. By following this

concept, some of the toxic issues and emotions brought up by the industry will be removed from

one of the world’s favorite things. People should support one another, consider each other’s

emotions, and reach out for help when needed to put the love back into sports.
 Lammers 11

Works Cited

Berkowitz, Steve, et al. “'I Assumed They Were Treating Us Fairly:' Why Can't NCAA Get

Women's Basketball Right?” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 27

Mar. 2021, www.usatoday.com/in-depth/sports/ncaaw/2021/03/27/march-madness-why-

cant-ncaa-get-womens-basketball-right/7012017002/. Accessed 28 Mar. 2021.

Bruton, Michelle. “Financial Ramifications of Coronavirus Cancelling Tokyo Olympics Would

be ‘Massive.’” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 28 Apr. 2020,

www.forbes.com/sites/michellebruton/2020/04/28/financial-ramifications-of-

coronavirus-canceling-tokyo-olympics-would-be-massive/?sh=ee580d4772af. Accessed

28 Mar. 2021.

Joyce, Nick. “The Early Days of Sport Psychology.” Monitor on Psychology, American

Psychological Association, www.apa.org/monitor/2008/07-08/sport-psych. Accessed 7

Mar. 2021.

Leguizamo, Federico, et al. "Personality, Coping Strategies, and Mental Health in High-

Performance Athletes During Confinement Derived From the COVID-19 Pandemic."

Frontiers in Public Health, 2021, p. NA. Gale In Context: Opposing

Viewpoints,link.gale.com/apps/doc/A647825228/OVIC?

u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=b2cc809a. Accessed 7 Mar. 2021.

Li, Chunxiao, et al. "Risk and Protective Factors of Generalized Anxiety Disorder of Elite

Collegiate Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Study." Frontiers in Public Health, 2021, p. NA.

Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A651391156/OVIC?

u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=b64647c3. Accessed 3 Mar. 2021.

Mahaseth, Harsh. “5 Benefits of Sports for Kids.” Novak Djokovic Foundation, 4 Oct. 2016,

novakdjokovicfoundation.org/5-benefits-sports-kids/#:~:text=Social

%20Skills&text=Playing%20sports%20teaches%20them%20about,an%20opportunity

%20to%20make%20friends. Accessed 23 Mar. 2021.

Moorwood, Victoria. “NCAA Responds to ‘Disrespectful’ Differences between Men's and

Women's Gyms.” REVOLT, REVOLT, 19 Mar. 2021,

www.revolt.tv/2021/3/19/22340245/ncaa-womens-basketball-mens-weight-rooms-

pictures. Accessed 2 Apr. 2021.

“6 Reasons Why Team Sports Are Good for Your Health: Keck Medicine of USC.” Keck

Medicine of USC |, 17 Aug. 2020, www.keckmedicine.org/6-reasons-why-team-sports-

are-good-for-your-health/. Accessed 23 Mar. 2021.

Sullivan, Becky. “Under Fire, The NCAA Apologizes And Unveils New Weight Room For

Women's Tournament.” NPR, NPR, 21 Mar. 2021,

www.npr.org/2021/03/20/979596524/under-fire-the-ncaa-apologizes-and-unveils-new-

weight-room-for-womens-tournament. Accessed 2 Apr. 2021.

"Youth athletes' mental health hampered by community sport cancellations in pandemic." The

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 11 Feb. 2021, p. NA. Gale In Context: Opposing

Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A651486071/OVIC?

u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=45066cb9. Accessed 3 Mar. 2021.