Stress in College Athletics: Causes, Consequences, Coping. - Review - book review

Stress in College Athletics: Causes, Consequences, Coping By James H. Humphrey, Deborah A. Yow and William W. Bowden Haworth Press 184 pp. 24.95

Parents and coaches put so much emphasis on getting talented student-athletes prepared and recruited for a college education and athletics -- escort to the junior leagues, file the applications, tour the campuses, stock the dorm rooms, hire the tutors, cheer at the games. Then parents and coaches inadvertently let unmitigated stress send the youngster packing, ending up back home frustrated, without a degree or a full exploration of his or her athletic abilities.

Unfortunately, many of us are insensitive to the amount of pressure that can build up within student-athletes. According to the book, Stress in College Athletics: Causes, Consequences, Coping, accumulated, unreleased pressure converts to stress. No matter how hectic some educational experiences and careers may be, few endeavors will generate the tension and anxiety college athletes and their coaches internalize and endure year round. Few of us walk into the office to a rain of boos or are subjected nightly to the possibility of public failure and humiliation. College athletics is an arena filled with extreme conditions that can cost players an education and coaches a job. Self-esteem and confidence can also be forfeited.

Stress exacts a high toll. It is a silent force on the bench, in the locker room and in the university athletics department. And it works most effectively when you don't know it's your foe, write authors James H. Humphrey, Deborah A. Yow and William W. Bowden.

Fortunately, this foe has been scouted in Stress in College Athletics. The book, authored by specialists in the fields of stress, athletics and management, is a thorough report on the stealthy game plan of stress, its inherent weaknesses and a detailed strategy for its defeat.

This book is a 10-chapter breakdown of stress at all levels, focusing on the players as well as the coaches and school administrators. You can gain a great deal of insight by either skimming specific chapters or diving deep into the subject, reading the text cover to cover. It begins with definitions and works its way smoothly into statistics, gender distinctions and professional personnel matters, and it ends, appropriately, with stress-reduction methods that include biofeedback, relaxation and behavior modification.

Can you recognize the signs of stress? You will be able to after reading this book. Some physical reactions include rapid heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, tightness in the chest and a knot in the stomach. Behavioral reactions include memory loss, twitching, lip biting and making a fist.

Stress is defined in layman's terms as demands that exceed the resources of the human body over an extended period of time. During this time the body strains to maintain a state of equilibrium. With that said, the most important point raised by the book is awareness.

How can you help the athletes you encounter? Awareness. Parents, teachers and coaches of athletes must be aware that student-athletes have special needs. Just as they have special diets and need extra sleep, their mental health requires special attention.

Knowledge of the stress factor is necessary to maintain good mental and physical health. Stress in College Athletics is accessible enough that student-athletes and their parents can use it offensively to get a jump on stress. This book also will benefit academic advisers and counselors. Many students meet with their academic advisers when they notice symptoms such as poor midterm grades. The adviser may refer students to counseling, but the counselor or adviser may not be in tune to the special needs of student-athletes.

This book is a great start toward documenting the emotional needs of student-athletes and recommending effective, well-conceived coping mechanisms. The goal is to instill balance and bolster student-athletes' hardiness. Sports are an excellent way to learn life skills. But as the youngsters learn to compete, all concerned must tend to their minds as well as their bodies. The mind is the tree source of all those marvelous plays and points that we applaud from the bleachers.

-- D. T. Lee is a Washington-based writer.

COPYRIGHT 2001 Cox, Matthews & Associates
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group