Goldey-Beacom over a two-day period hosted a "LeadHership Athletics" workshop designed to improve the mental health and empowerment for its female student-athletes.
The workshop focused on five principles…
- Purpose-More than an athlete (conditioned beliefs, facts vs. feelings, putting this sports thing into perspective)
- Outstanding-I am unique, valuable and enough (recognizing negative self-talk, eliminating self-doubt)
- Wow factor-Who am I? What is important to me? self-esteem (creating identity, values, motivators and communication needs)
- Excellence-Recovering perfectionist, striving for excellence! (goals, neutral thinking; creating routines and habits for the win!)
- Resilience (facing fear, growth and reset plans)
Ashley Carter, owner and founder of LeadHership Athletics, led the workshop and included a session to all female students as well as individualized sessions for each women's team. She is a DISC Strengths Specialist, a confidence coach, empowerment speaker and mentor. Carter also is a former assistant softball coach at the University of Washington.
"I'm very glad we were able to bring Ashley in to speak to our young women," Director of Athletics Jeremy Benoit said. "We try to do as much as we can to ensure that our student-athletes leave GBC with all of the tools necessary to be successful out in the working world. Bringing in a speaker like her to empower our young women speaks very highly to that effort."
"The LeadHership talk with coach Ashley Carter was a great experience to be a part of for all female athletes," said softball senior Carly Setting, who last season was picked second team All-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. "Mental health is something that athletes don't like to discuss so being able to open up and speak freely on that was huge for us! It's not thought of since sports are always considered physical, but Coach Carter allowed us to understand that maintaining a healthy mind and thought process is essential to living the life of a student-athlete."
The primary session for all female athletes was highlighted with a dinner sponsored by President Dr. Colleen Perry Keith, the first female president in the College's history.
"Ashley's presentation focused on encouraging and empowering our female athletes to not only see their worth on the court or field, but also their worth as a person," GBC Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator/Women's Basketball Coach Bethann Burke said. "They are more than their sport. They are valued and they must always remember their 'why.'
"Having the support and presence of Dr. Keith at this event meant a lot to our student-athletes and also our coaches/staff. We are so fortunate to have a great female leader who not only takes an interest in sports at the College, but also takes an interest and leadership role at the national level. Her care and commitment to the College is visible and our student-athletes see this on a daily basis through her ongoing support. We are grateful for her leadership."
With over 17 years of coaching experience that include seven at the collegiate level, Carter has seen the detrimental impact that a lack of identity and self-worth has on the confidence and performance success of female athletes. Her mission is to affirm and unlock the hidden potential in female athletes, so they not only overcome the mental and emotional barriers, but to empower them to own their power in this world.
Carter created the program to affirm and unlock the hidden potential in female athletes so that they overcome their mental, emotional and performance barriers. Her hopes also are to elevate the athletes performance and own their power in the world.
According to Carter's work…
- Only 40 percent of athletes feel comfortable talking to their coaches about mental health (NCAA).
- Anxiety is the number one mental health concern in adults and teens (NIMH, NAMI).
- Researchers found that trait anxiety was negatively associated with athletic performance.
