23 APR 2024 · Dr. Steve Graef's insights into differentiating between anxiety, sports pressure, and typical adolescent behavior in student-athletes can be invaluable for parents. Here's a summary of the guidelines he may provide: - Open Communication: Encourage parents to establish open lines of communication with their student-athletes at all stages of their sporting journey, from Little League to high school. This involves creating an environment where the athlete feels comfortable expressing their thoughts and feelings about the game and their mental state. - Setting Boundaries: Help parents set boundaries with their athletes regarding discussing the game and how the athlete is feeling. While it's essential to discuss performance and emotions related to sports, it's also crucial to establish limits to prevent overwhelming the athlete or making them feel pressured. - Recognizing Signs of Struggle: Educate parents about the signs that their child/athlete may be struggling with their mental health. These signs can include changes in behavior, mood swings, decreased performance, withdrawal from activities, or expressing feelings of stress and anxiety. - Understanding Typical Adolescent Behavior: Provide parents with information on typical adolescent behavior to help them differentiate between normal developmental challenges and potential mental health issues. This understanding can assist parents in identifying when their child's behavior deviates from what is considered typical for their age group. Overall, Dr. Steve Graef's guidelines aim to empower parents to support their student-athletes effectively, understand their experiences, and navigate the complexities of mental health and sports participation. By fostering open communication, setting boundaries, and recognizing signs of struggle, parents can play a crucial role in promoting their child's well-being both on and off the field.

16 APR 2024 · The pressure on athletes can be immense, and it's crucial to address not just their physical well-being but also their mental health. Providing tips on balancing different aspects of life and recognizing when to seek help can make a significant difference in athletes' overall well-being. It's encouraging to see efforts being made to support athletes in all aspects of their lives. 

9 APR 2024 · Coaches today are being asked to do more than worrying about the X's and O's of their sport these days. One area that coaches are paying more attention to is an athlete's mental health. Today, coaches may monitor the unprecedented scrunity and pressure athletes face playing sports. Some of this pressure is due to social media. What warning signs should a coach be looking for to see if an athlete is struggling with their mental health. In today's episode of "Ask Dr Steve," Dr. Steve Graef examines this topic and provides insights for coaches. Dr. Steve makes sure to emphasize that coaches are not asked to be therapist but rather to pay attention and notice for changes in athletes behaviors and if this could be do to mental health challenges. It's important for coaches to create a supportive environment where athletes feel comfortable discussing their mental health concerns. Coaches can provide resources such as access to counseling services, mental health education materials, or referrals to mental health professionals when needed. By being attentive to warning signs and offering support, coaches can play a crucial role in promoting the overall well-being of their athletes. If you are a coach, this is a terrific episode.

2 APR 2024 · How do parents manage their child from experiencing sports burn out. Burn out for many kids begins at an early age of competing year round or trying to play all the sports their friends play. As children grow older, pressure may build to compete year round. And for many parents, with multiple kids, parents will experience burn out getting their children to all of their activities. In this episode of Ask Dr. Steve, Dr. Steve Graef offers tips for parents on how to manager their own expectations and potential burnout to also managing their kids expectations and potential for burnout. Dr. Steve provides great advice for a family to manage and enjoy sports for multiple athletes in the family

26 MAR 2024 · Many athletes today are experieincing sport burn out at earlier and earlier ages. One statistic smentioned is 45% of youth athletes quit their sport beacuse of burnout and 70% of kids quit sports by age 13 due to burn out. One contributing factor is athletes from a young age are playing sports year round include summer/fall leagues or AAU. Playing more than one sports in some cases can contribute to the burnout affect. If an athlete is experieincing burnout, what steps can the athlete take. In this episode of Ask Dr. Steve, Dr. Steve Graef offers tips for athletes to avoid getting burned out and enjoy the sport they are playing.

19 MAR 2024 · In the latest episode of Ask Dr. Steve, Dr. Steve Graef discusses how coaches at all levels can tell if an athlete is experiencing burn out. Today, athletes are participating in their chosen sport 365 days a year with taking little time off. If an athlete plays multiple sports, this may help alleviate burnout from one sport or the other but burnout from practicing may occur. This is a great listen for youth coaches, middle school and high school coaches. 

6 MAR 2024 · While most parents are supportive of their athlete and only want the best, many parents unwillingly place too much pressure for their athlete to perform well in the " big game or must win game." This pressure can lead an athlete to have performance anxiety. Oftentimes as well, parents have internal nervousness before their athlete plays a big game. This episode of the Health, Hope and Happiness podcast discusses ways parents can help their athlete maintain a good balance between school, friends and athletics and introduces ways to normalize conversations where the athlete feels this external pressure so the athletic contest is positive experience for everyone.

27 FEB 2024 · Many athletes experience performance anxiety, especially leading up to the big game or must win game. Athletes often experience nervousness, butterflies and other feelings waiting all day to play a game at night. In this episode of the Health, Hope and Happiness podcast, Dr. Steve provides tips for athletes to deal with nerves and performance anxiety. He also discusses how athletes can block out the noise leading up to the game - from family, friends and media. These tips may also carry over to help the athlete in their academic career as well.

20 FEB 2024 · During the season, many coaches will place undo pressure on players to perform for the "big game" or a "must win game." This additional pressure on athletes may cause some performance anxiety in practice that translates into the game. Coaches may also feel anxiety themselves in calling or managing the game. In this edition of the Health, Hope and Happiness podcast, Dr. Steve Graef addresses how coaches can help an athlete who is struggling with performance anxiety. He provides tips how having conversations at the beginning of the season can lead to less tension during the duration of the season.

3 JAN 2024 · In this episode, Columbus, Ohio, based sports psychologist Dr. Steve Graef discusses how a coach can create an inclusive team culture. Many athletes come from a diverse backgrounds and bring multiple perspectives to a team. Dr. Steve discusses how coaches can create and embrace the diversity. He also talks about how an athlete can the diversity of his teammates and create team bonding activities. This timely topic provides interesting perspectivies and tips to help coaches, athletes and navigate what can be a challenging and as Dr. Steve states, "a messy topic."