To the day, we are a month after Drug Free Sport’s first
“Sport Exchange Summit”, where we gathered thought leaders from sport to
discuss the bigger issues that affect “the team behind the team”. For two days, we were inspired and
challenged by calls to action to be full resources to the athletic communities
that we serve.
A few highlights from this event that continue to resonate:
- Drug Abuse in Sport: Students are returning to
campuses around America right now, each bringing a new set of experiences with
them from the summer months. Our presenters that discussed prescription drug
abuse and new forms of marijuana consumption shared the risks and access that
youth have to these substances. These aren’t the recreational drugs of old –
they’re genetically charged, in many cases not prescribed, and widely accessible.
Drug Free Sport offers educational options for many levels of sport on how to
listen, consult and guide athletes who are experiencing these challenges during
an age of experimentation.
- Race/Diversity in Sport: It’s one of America’s hot
topics right now. Sport brings together people of all walks of life, in its
best, forming one unit for a greater good. However, there are differences that
are to be acknowledges as we embrace the idea that athletes bring their life
experiences to the field and court. Learning to listen, understand and embrace
these differences, even when they are uncomfortable, is a mentally healthy
approach to humanizing your team members.
- Sport Staff Integration of Ideas: The Sport
Exchange Summit brought together career paths that cross each other on campuses
and in training centers , but that don’t often speak on a peer level.
Throughout many presentations, leaders emphasized the importance of athletic
trainers, team psychologists, dietitians, athletic administrations and others
sharing ideas for the athletes that they support. It wasn’t lost on anyone in
the room that each group often has their individual goals, especially as
revenue and performance are frequently hand in hand. To quote Aristotle, “the
whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” We need to remember that this is
one of the reasons that so many professionals were drawn to a career in sports.
From visiting interns to Pro Football Hall of Famer Will Shields, this
message resonated throughout the event and beyond.
- Self-development. Each of the numerous attendees
made an effort to travel to Kansas City, devoting at least two days toward
continuing education. It’s important to take care of the people that take care
of others – in this case, it’s self-maintenance. Please continue to take care
of yourself and each other as this school year starts. We are a support system
and a community. To continue these conversations that were started, join the
conversations on Twitter using the #SportExchangeSummit hashtag. If you’re new
to the event and didn’t attend, review the hashtag to see the great comments
and content.
Drug Free Sport will offer continuing educational
opportunities, including our free webinar on Tuesday, August 23 on marijuana
trends. For more information, including how to register, click here: bit.ly/2aL2zRE
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