Mental health has been in the spotlight for many years now. Particularly amongst teens, discussion of a ‘mental health crisis’ is common, referring to skyrocketing rates of mental health problems in youth and adolescents.While mental health considerations in athletes do overlap with those of the general public, there are some factors specifically related to sports that need attention. Research indicates that depression in college aged athletes occurs at about the same rate as in non-athlete peers—approximately 25%.

Your body is the most important piece of equipment you bring to the field each day. And for best results, you must ensure that it’s operating at peak capacity.‍ But in a sport with such varying physical demands as softball—that's easier said than done.