By Chris GoldbergPhillylacrosse.com, Published 7/2/22
Olivia Samkavitz believes that the stigma of admitting as an athlete that you need support or help for your mental health is beginning to change.
“I think people were always afraid to talk about (mental health) because so many felt they would think you were not strong enough,” said the 2024 defender, who plays club for Dynasty Elite. “People only focused on physical strength in sports.
“But it is being talked about more. It came up with (gymnastics superstar) Simone Biles, and as more athletes have become publicly known about it, I think the message is to focus on mental strength as much as physical strength.
“It’s OK if the stress is building up and you feel you need to take a break. There are people you can go to and resources to turn to.”
Samkavitz, who attends Central Bucks East, spoke to an assembly of over 300 Dynasty players and parents at the club’s annual Summer Family Night on Wednesday at Germantown Academy’s Sister Fields. The event benefited Morgan’s Message Foundation, created in honor of the memory of lacrosse player Morgan Rodgers – who tragically took his life 3 years ago at the age of 22 after battling mental health issues.
Samkavitz became an ambassador for Morgan’s Message in the spring after participating in a Villanova lacrosse game for women, where she learned about the basics. Her message to both players and family members was that it is OK to seek help if you need it.
“I’ve always been passionate about student-athlete mental health,” said Samkavitz, who also plays football at CB East. “We are trying to break the stigma of mental health.”
Samkavitz also started a club on CB East called “Next Play Sports” that supports high school athletes in working to reduce the impact of bad games and work to focus on the positive. She plans to incorporate Morgan’s message into her Next Play Sports Club, as both support mental health. She hopes to hold an event for this cause this fall with the football team CB East.
At Wednesday’s event, parents helped run a table with resources about Morgan’s message. Money was raised for the fund through raffles, t-shirts and an ice cream truck. Morgan’s Message booklets have the number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255) and a crisis text line (sms HOME to 741741).
“Having this event really means a lot,” Samkavitz said. “So many parents got to see it, and there are so many resources for younger girls.”
Dynasty 2023 assistant coach Maggie Tydings is another Morgan’s Message Ambassador. Tydings, a growing junior goalie at Johns Hopkins of Princeton, N.J., attended Deerfield Academy, Mass., Where she saw student-athletes sometimes struggle with mental health issues.
“I became involved in Morgan’s Message as a freshman at Johns Hopkins,” Tydings said. “Mental health is not talked about enough in the athletic environment.
‘It’s something I saw a lot at boarding school; I had the unique experience of being away from home and that is the environment where many people suffer from mental health issues. That is something I would like to spread the word about. “
Tydings explained that athletes like to push themselves hard and be pressured hard by their coaches. But they don’t like to admit that they sometimes need to stop or agree to slow down.
“If you look at the athletic environment, you will never be the kid who drops early from the race, and you will never be the kid who asks a coach for a sub,” Tydings said. “You will never be the one to ask for help or say you feel down.
“Athletes are taught to keep going. What they say is the best way to keep going is to take a break sometimes.”
Tydings said the coaches at Dynasty will continue to push their players to excel, but that they will spend just as much energy and time ensuring their mental health. Last fall, Coach Jen Duckenfield, Dynasty’s director, ran a Morgan’s Message Resource Day during a multi-team Fall Ball day.
“I think it’s important that we as coaches on the pitch push them hard,” she said. “But off the field, that’s what we’re all about. All the coaches with Dynasty have a good relationship with the kids, and we do events like this, and we always check on them.”
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