Spring Sports Unite for “Friday Focus”

SWEET BRIAR, Va. --- Over a five-week period prior to the first competitions, Sweet Briar College spring sport student-athletes train together on Fridays.  The “Friday Focus” sessions are divided in two sections:  mental preparation and physical training.  The initiative, spearheaded by third-year Vixen Softball head coach Danielle Delude, is in its first year of implementation.

After conducting leadership training seminars for fall sport student-athletes, Delude began thinking of ways to offer similar opportunities to Vixen spring sport student-athletes.  “Unlike fall sports, we have a good five to six weeks of practice opportunities prior to our first competition,” said Delude.  “Once we start the playing schedule, our time with student-athletes really is limited, so focusing on mental training and emphasizing skill transfer in the pre-season seemed like a natural fit.” 

Fellow Vixen spring sport coaches Teresa Boylan (head tennis coach) and Eboni Preston (head lacrosse coach) give the “Friday Focus” program full support.  Coach Preston, in her first year coaching at SBC and first year as a head coach, offered that,  “the Friday sessions give us a platform to help our student-athletes hone their mental training skills.  Student-athletes can’t reach their full potential on the field without putting in the behind the scenes work of mental training.”   Coach Boylan also notes that the sessions facilitate a sense of camaraderie among the three spring sport teams.

Coach Boylan added, “the five weeks give our student-athletes another perspective of what it means to perform under pressure and it also provides insight on how to manage the pressure.”  To date, the spring sports are halfway through the program.  So far topics covered include:  goal setting and positive self talk.  Still to be covered topics will include: dealing with focus and distractions, visualization and game day as well as time management and nutrition strategies.

Sophomore softball player Amanda Catlett (Spotsylvania, Va./Spotsylvania) says she is excited about the Friday sessions.  “I enjoy working with my teammates and athletes from other teams and I also appreciate the opportunity to focus on skills I know I will need come game day.  Juniors Jessie Edington (Alexandria, Va./Bishop Ireton), and Sarah Manter (Brunswick, Maine/Brunswick) echoed Catlett’s sentiments. Edington, a lacrosse player stated that “I’ve found the goal setting session to be very helpful and I really like working with athletes from the other teams.” Tennis player Manter described the sessions as extremely useful and fun.  "The pool segment from last week was a blast! Each Friday session is like a friendly reminder, helps you remember to apply what you know and what you are learning."