Princeton University Athletics
Photo by: Beverly Schaefer
Princeton Tiger Performance Leads Coaches Meditation Exercises
February 18, 2021 | General
This Fall, Princeton Tiger Performance and Dr. Mike Gross held a virtual Coaches Meditation weekly. Tigers coaches joined Dr. Gross and Jess Deutsch, Associate Director, Student-Athlete Services. The sessions were offered to provide a wellness opportunity for coaches, and also to increase their awareness of what meditation can offer student-athletes and teams as a self-care and performance tool.
"Knowing how impactful having sports psychology available in Jadwin was becoming for student-athletes before COVID, Mike (Gross) and I had a feeling that offering this service to coaches would be meaningful in the moment, and could have a ripple effect on mindset and wellbeing when we would return," said Jess Deutsch.
The coaches who participated in the sessions were Lisa Van Ackeren (Softball), Sam Shweisky (Men's Volleyball), Reuben Jones (Women's Track and Field), Mike Willis (Football), Angie Brambley-Moyer (Strength and Conditioning) and Krystal Melendez (Women's Open Rowing).
Coaches joined the meditation for a range of personal and professional reasons, including the desire for a "sense of inner peace and calm," the desire to learn more from a professional and to hear about others' experiences, and to "put a healthy rhythm on the work week" during a turbulent time. Some of the coaches had prior experience with various forms of meditation (walking, chanting, sitting) but largely had not practiced it within the context of athletics.
Like any practice that is new or different, meditation can bring up some anxieties and hesitance. The coaches who joined this group were open about having some resistance around sitting still with thoughts for long periods of time, and worrying about "doing it right," but those who joined realized it was actually not at all about perfection, but rather "showing up and trying."
What do Princeton Athletics coaches get out of a weekly meditation practice?
Reuben Jones points to, "letting go of thoughts, worries, and concerns, letting them run their course and not hang on to them." Mike Willis cites "learning about mindfulness techniques that student-athletes can utilize while also integrating them into my own routine."
Lisa Van Ackeren says she developed "more patience with myself – understanding that I can practice and get better at something that is hard to do…. a growth mindset."
Sam Shweisky values "building community with colleagues, and tools for staying calm in the face of stressors;" and Krystal Melendez appreciates, "the reminder to check in with people." Sometimes, the post-meditation debrief was as powerful as the session itself.
Specifically, related to coaching, the meditation space offered a way to practice engagement in the present moment, setting an example that Jones believes could help student-athletes focus on tasks. Van Ackeren also commented on "the recognition of where we hold tension, and how to release it." Not coincidentally, Princeton Softball has acquired HEADSPACE for the whole team, and several student-athletes are developing a regular meditation practice now. Princeton Volleyball has been doing short (60-90 second) meditations at the beginning or end of practices.
Overall, the Coaches Meditation reinforced the power of coaches' own thoughts and imagination, with the awareness that worry is created by inner thoughts, not events. Meditation is an effective component of mindfulness for student-athletes and coaches, helping to reduce stress, increase focus, regulate emotion, release judgement, and enhance gratitude. One coach noticed that he felt "more relaxed during the day and slept better at night with the meditation practice in place.
The coaches who practiced meditation together in the Fall of 2020 reflected that there was "literally no down side" and wished that more of their colleagues would give it a try. "Every coach who came for one session came back for another." In a year of reflection, growth, and uncertainty, the chance to "just be" in the company of others, with some guidance and encouragement, was a gift and a blessing, and one that can translate and be amplified as student-athletes follow their coaches' lead.
"Knowing how impactful having sports psychology available in Jadwin was becoming for student-athletes before COVID, Mike (Gross) and I had a feeling that offering this service to coaches would be meaningful in the moment, and could have a ripple effect on mindset and wellbeing when we would return," said Jess Deutsch.
The coaches who participated in the sessions were Lisa Van Ackeren (Softball), Sam Shweisky (Men's Volleyball), Reuben Jones (Women's Track and Field), Mike Willis (Football), Angie Brambley-Moyer (Strength and Conditioning) and Krystal Melendez (Women's Open Rowing).
Coaches joined the meditation for a range of personal and professional reasons, including the desire for a "sense of inner peace and calm," the desire to learn more from a professional and to hear about others' experiences, and to "put a healthy rhythm on the work week" during a turbulent time. Some of the coaches had prior experience with various forms of meditation (walking, chanting, sitting) but largely had not practiced it within the context of athletics.
Like any practice that is new or different, meditation can bring up some anxieties and hesitance. The coaches who joined this group were open about having some resistance around sitting still with thoughts for long periods of time, and worrying about "doing it right," but those who joined realized it was actually not at all about perfection, but rather "showing up and trying."
What do Princeton Athletics coaches get out of a weekly meditation practice?
Reuben Jones points to, "letting go of thoughts, worries, and concerns, letting them run their course and not hang on to them." Mike Willis cites "learning about mindfulness techniques that student-athletes can utilize while also integrating them into my own routine."
Lisa Van Ackeren says she developed "more patience with myself – understanding that I can practice and get better at something that is hard to do…. a growth mindset."
Sam Shweisky values "building community with colleagues, and tools for staying calm in the face of stressors;" and Krystal Melendez appreciates, "the reminder to check in with people." Sometimes, the post-meditation debrief was as powerful as the session itself.
Specifically, related to coaching, the meditation space offered a way to practice engagement in the present moment, setting an example that Jones believes could help student-athletes focus on tasks. Van Ackeren also commented on "the recognition of where we hold tension, and how to release it." Not coincidentally, Princeton Softball has acquired HEADSPACE for the whole team, and several student-athletes are developing a regular meditation practice now. Princeton Volleyball has been doing short (60-90 second) meditations at the beginning or end of practices.
Overall, the Coaches Meditation reinforced the power of coaches' own thoughts and imagination, with the awareness that worry is created by inner thoughts, not events. Meditation is an effective component of mindfulness for student-athletes and coaches, helping to reduce stress, increase focus, regulate emotion, release judgement, and enhance gratitude. One coach noticed that he felt "more relaxed during the day and slept better at night with the meditation practice in place.
The coaches who practiced meditation together in the Fall of 2020 reflected that there was "literally no down side" and wished that more of their colleagues would give it a try. "Every coach who came for one session came back for another." In a year of reflection, growth, and uncertainty, the chance to "just be" in the company of others, with some guidance and encouragement, was a gift and a blessing, and one that can translate and be amplified as student-athletes follow their coaches' lead.
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