Sportive

In Quebec, almost 165,000 youths practice a support at an academic level in conjunction with their studies. Student athletes are often under strong pressure, which can become heavy for a young person anxious to succeed at school, perform in the sport and find time for their social and family life. How athletes deal with these different stressors is a determining factor in their mental health and athletic achievement (Rice, Purcell, De Silva, Mawren, McGorry, & Parker 2016). Indeed, in the general population, one person in five will suffer from a mental health problem in their lifetime, and athletes are no exception (Gulliver, Griffiths, Christensen, 2012). The most common psychological problems for student athletes include depression, anxiety, eating disorders, attention deficit…

Once on the field, we are all equal and we are all working towards the same goal. There are not many activities and contexts where people who do not know each other can get together and, even before learning about each other (origin, social status, political ideology, etc.), put all that aside when they get in the locker room. Because, beyond these differences which too often isolate us, sport allows us to get closer, eliminate barriers, become united and cooperate to reach the goal which should always be prioritized in sport: the pleasure of playing. In fact, whether it comes from the results of studies or popular belief, most discussions on sports – whose reality is sometimes difficult to verify…

Today, I am addressing the athlete in you who spends many hours perfecting their techniques, as sharp as they are. I would like to share with you an experience that I had. I sincerely hope that after having read this text, my message will stay in your memory and you can use it as you see fit. I spent all five years of high school in a sports-study program. Like we both know, being in a sports-study program is not just about spending two hours a day doing a sport. In reality it involves many more sacrifices. Being in a sports-study program means that your lunch hour is shortened and that you have to eat fast because you have to…