The return of the Matt Stevenson Junior NY Tennis Tournament will be right after this year’s U.S Open! This unique event is not only aimed at promoting youth mental health but also involves sport psychology for those interested in learning more about how their minds work when playing sports or just life itself.
As announced today by ProtoStar Foundation, new additions were made to better assist with player development during competition time such as providing information on Sport Psychology which can help young athletes perform better academically while still having fun.
Youth Mental Health Crisis.
Tennis players are increasingly feeling the pressure of being successful in a high-pressure environment. They experience performance related anxiety and sometimes end up with depressive symptoms after losing matches. This is not uncommon for people who excel at something they love but struggle when faced by difficulties or challenges outside their field expertise.
The pandemic has only exacerbated an already existing youth mental health crisis. It is important to address these issues before things get worse and supportive sports programs can really help bring more awareness.
Junior tennis players are in a unique position. They face both the competitive pressures of becoming better at their sport, but also have to deal with being an adolescent who is still figuring out what they want from life. All this while trying to do well on court and please their parents.
The Matt Stevenson Junior NY Tennis Tournament brings awareness about mental health issues so people know there’s nothing wrong if they feel sad after losing because those feelings happen sometimes too.
As in previous years, the Tournament will distribute age-appropriate information about depression, anxiety, and suicide prevention provided by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and materials available from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
The AFSP has a mission to help adolescents understand the many aspects of mental health, including what it means be mentally healthy and how they can take care for their own well-being. Junior players will learn practical information about signs that may indicate someone might need assistance as well as where parents or coaches could go in order get more info from local organizations.
New Sport Psychology Materials.
This year, there are new instructional resources on sport psychology, including self-guided workbook activities, strategies, and advice on how kids can improve their mental focus, manage performance anxiety, and gain a mental advantage.
Dr. Edson Filho, a professor of sport psychology at Boston University, and Dr. Hayley Perelman, a licensed clinical psychologist and sport psychologist, assessed the materials before they were expressly created for the Tournament by a group of experts. The challenges that are specific to tennis players and young athletes are the main focus.
Dr. Filho said, “I am pleased to take part in this important initiative to provide valuable resources for adolescents on mental health both on and off the tennis court.”
Dr. Perelman added, “Being better informed will help teens navigate any mental health challenges that may arise.”
Among the materials are workbook exercises that the junior players can do on their own or with an adult to help them with such issues as:
(1) Identifying how they want to feel in a match.
(2) Focusing on what they can control during a match.
(3) Knowing their support network.
Perfectionism, eating disorders, and body image issues in sports are also addressed. Additional materials are available for parents and coaches on how to support their players, such as:
(1) A Primer on Tennis, Sport Psychology, and Mental Health.
(2) Suggested Areas for Further Exploration.
(3) Parent’s Guide to Supporting Athletes During College Recruiting.
Team members include Nick Lee, Masters student in counseling, Rachel McMahon and Annie Christman of Galea Health, and Tom Smalley, a certified strength and conditioning coach. They will be at the NY Tennis Tournament to answer any questions. The materials distributed are for educational purposes only and do not constitute advice, therapy, or counseling.
Interconnection Between Mental Performance and Mental Health.
The Tournament’s goal is to help junior players understand the interconnection between mental performance on the tennis court and mental health off the tennis court.
Naomi Osaka had to withdraw from the 2021 French Open because she was suffering from “long bouts of depression.” Mardy Fish could not face Roger Federer in the 2012 U.S. Open because he was paralyzed by “severe anxiety disorder.”
Gary P. Poon, President and Founder of ProtoStar Foundation said, “Mental health challenges are difficult issues to talk about, but they must be addressed. Talking can save lives – the more comfortable adolescents become in discussing mental health issues, the more likely they will seek help when they need it.”
Sanctioned by USTA Eastern.
Because of its popularity last year, the Tournament will be held over two weekends on September 17-19, 2022 (14u and 18u) and September 24-26, 2022 (12u and 16u). It is sanctioned by the United States Tennis Association (USTA), Eastern Section.
About Matt Stevenson.
The inspiration behind the Tournament came from the late Matt Stevenson, a young, generous, and passionate tennis professional who ran successful junior tennis programs in the Washington, D.C. area.
Before tragically taking his own life in 2017 at the age of 32, he had written extensively about his own mental health issues and had asked that kids be made aware of the importance of mental health and to seek help if needed. This Tournament seeks to turn a tragedy into something positive.
All proceeds from the NY Tennis Tournament will benefit the Matt Stevenson Junior Tennis Fund, which supports junior tennis programs and promising junior players needing financial aid. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to AFSP, Flushing Meadow’s junior tennis programs, and the Junior Tennis Foundation, a NY-based nonprofit organization that supports tennis programs for underserved youth and people with disabilities.
Sources: THX News, ProtoStar Group & USTA.
