In a much-appreciated move, the Sports Authority of India has assigned a psychologist to travel with the Indian women’s hockey team as they head to Spain, and for subsequent matches.
A career in sports can be incredibly stressful, and not just because there’s a pressure to perform. Players often experience homesickness, loneliness, the mental effects of incapacitating injuries, and the after tremors and competitive failure, to name a few. Unaddressed, these things could wreak havoc in a player’s life.
A psychologist off the pitch can certainly work on improving group dynamics and addressing individual concerns. But a psychologist who’s on the pitch can, in chief coach Sjoerd Marjine’s words, “analyse how the group dynamics are when we play consecutive matches and how the players react to victory and defeat.” This opportunity, which had been missing previously, can now provide a better understanding of the team and what issues to work on.
A study found that athletes may actually be more at risk of mental health issues than the general public, and there are cases to support the argument. In 2017, Olympic champion Michael Phelps made a shocking revelation that he had at one point thought of suicide. Many others have also spoken about what they faced.
Things could have been different with a mental health support programme in place. Last year, the UK announced an action plan to do just that. It pushes for performance directors, coaches and governing bodies to identify warning signs. It also plans to set up mental health units funded by the National Lottery, and build online resources for players. Perhaps the SAI could draw inspiration from it, and implement something similar for all athletes in India.