Iowa Player Anxiety Refreshing, Sign Of Times
Back in 2015 I helped coach my 7th grader in a travel hoops game. He was on the court, playing well, and I was proud, but his best friend came off the court complaining about struggling to breathe. He held his two hands together, constantly fidgeting them, taking deep breaths, hunched over. I called his dad and mom over and suggested they take him to the nearest clinic, to be safe. I wasn’t sure what might be happening.
It turned about my son’s friend was having an anxiety attack. These episodes are normal particularly in middle school and for kids who are overwhelmed. The symptoms look a lot like someone who is struggling to breathe.
I was thinking about this as I saw the news that Iowa Hawkeyes basketball player Patrick McCaffery decided to take time from the team after bravely sharing details about his anxiety. “I have battling anxiety for a while,” he said in a statement. 5 years ago, even 2 years ago, this sort of revelation publicly by an athlete, particularly the collegiate or professional level, would have been rare. Pro player Kevin Love was among the first to publicly discuss his mental health and depression and since then others, like Olympian Simone Biles, have courageosly opened up about their mental health.
“My struggle with anxiety affects every aspect of my well-being and makes it incredibly difficult to function normally,” McCaffery said. He is unsure when he will return specifically to the team. As a middle school coach, and former player, I find it incredibly positive that these sorts of stories are told. It will be important over the next decade for coaches, parents and teachers to learn how to recognize these situations sooner, if for no other reason to just do better for the student-athlete.
Tips for recognizing anxiety in a young athlete:
Be attentive and positive (even if giving constructive feedback),
Try not to focus so much on x’s and o’s
Be more aware of player cues - are they running, trying, happy, part of the huddle, or are they withdrawing.
To notice the difference between anxiety and nerves, consider that full-blown anxiety or panic attacks can include:
Inability to sit still
Rapid breathing
Nausea
Heavy perspiration
Increased heart rate
Partial or complete loss of focus
Unwillingness to play