The Game Within: How to Thrive as a Teen Athlete in a Social Media World

By Walter Beede

In today's digital age, being a teenage athlete comes with unique challenges. The Game Within is your ultimate guide to navigating the social media landscape as a young athlete, equipping you with the tools and strategies to thrive both on and off the field.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beede Baseball Publishing LLC
• Release date: Sep 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088284735

Book preview

Disclaimer Notice

Please note the information contained within this document is for educational and entertainment purposes only. All effort has been made to present accurate, up-to-date, reliable, complete information. No warranties of any kind are declared or implied. Readers acknowledge that the author is not engaged in the rendering of legal, financial, medical, or professional advice. The content within this book has been derived from various sources. Please consult a licensed professional before attempting any techniques outlined in this book.

By reading this document, the reader agrees that under no circumstances is the author responsible for any losses, direct or indirect, that are incurred because of the use of the information contained within this document, including, but not limited to, errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.

Table of Contents

Disclaimer Notice

Introduction

Chapter 1

The Impact of Social Media on Teen Athletes

Chapter 2

The Importance of Mindset for Teen Athletes

Chapter 3

Building a Personal Brand as a Teen Athlete

Chapter 4

Social Media and College Athletics

Chapter 5

Balancing Social Media and Real Life

Chapter 6

Overcoming Obstacles and Adversity

Chapter 7

Maximizing Performance as a Teen Athlete

Chapter 8

Dealing with Social Media Pressure and Criticism

Chapter 9

The Parent Trap – How Not to Behave on Social Media

Chapter 10

The Parent, the Athlete, and Social Media Interference

Chapter 11

Developing Healthy Relationships with Coaches and Teammates

Chapter 12

The Power of Giving Back as a Teen Athlete

Conclusion

References

Introduction

Navigating the Digital Arena

Growing up, I remember the exhilaration of scoring a goal during a soccer match and the immediate desire to share that moment with my friends. Today, with the advent of social media, sharing has taken on a new dimension. As a teenager, the world can seem vast and intimate; for the budding athlete, it’s a maze of opportunities and pitfalls. With its allure and challenges, social media is a significant part of this journey.

The Mental Game

Before we dive into the strategies and tips, let’s address the elephant in the room: mental health. It’s a topic often whispered about but seldom shouted. For a teen athlete, the mind is as crucial as the body. An athlete’s prowess isn’t just about physical strength and mental resilience. Missteps on social media can lead to anxiety, depression, and self-esteem issues, affecting performance not because of a lack of skill but because of the emotional turmoil it can stir.

Harnessing the Power of Mindset

Every elite athlete, from Serena Williams to Lionel Messi, has one thing in common: a robust mental focus. This book aims to guide you in cultivating a growth mindset. Yes, failures will come, but they’re not the end but the beginning of a new lesson. We’ll explore how setbacks can be steppingstones through the lens of renowned athletes and their journeys.

Crafting Your Digital Persona

Your online presence can be as vital as your game in today’s digital age. It’s about showcasing your athletic prowess, expressing your individuality, and aspiring for a college athletic career or even a professional one. Your social media game needs to be as sharp as your skills on the field. But remember, it’s essential to strike a balance. While building your brand, always maintain sight of the real world and the genuine connections that ground you.

Finding Support in the Digital Crowd

When the going gets tough, remember you’re not alone. Social media, often seen as a pressure source, can also be a wellspring of support. From fellow athletes sharing their struggles to communities rallying behind their stars, the digital realm can be a place of solace and motivation. This book will guide you on how to tap into this positivity, ensuring you bounce back stronger.

The Double-Edged Sword of Content

While there’s beneficial content on nutrition, fitness, and mental preparation, there’s also a darker side—the challenge of differentiating between the two. Together, we’ll navigate this, ensuring you’re consuming content that uplifts and educates, steering clear of distractions.

Facing the Digital Demons

Cyberbullying, unrealistic standards, and the constant barrage of negativity are real. But so is your strength. Learn to harness criticism, channel it constructively, and present yourself authentically. By doing so, you won’t just be another athlete online but a beacon of inspiration.

Building Bonds Beyond the Screen

Your relationships off the screen are as crucial as those on it. How you engage with teammates, coaches, and fans paints a picture of who you are. This book will offer insights into ensuring your digital interactions enrich, not strain, these vital relationships.

Giving Back: The Digital Way

Lastly, as you climb the ladder of success, remember those who look up to you. Social media offers a unique platform to give back, address societal issues, and inspire the next generation. Together, we’ll explore how you can be a force for good.

Join me on this journey as we unlock the game’s potential. Embrace the lessons, keep an open mind, and let’s redefine what it means to be a teen athlete in the age of social media.

Chapter 1

The Impact of Social Media on Teen Athletes

Social media is here to stay, and we cannot get around that fact. Like anything, use in moderation provides better results than frequent indulgence. However, teenagers of the ٢١st century have grown up with likes, shares, and comments coming at them from all angles. Unfortunately, a great deal of the content consumed is negative and can hinder performance in terms of grades and in sports. This chapter will address how profound the impact of social media can be. Yes, there is a positive side, but to get there, we first must look at the evils such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, withdrawal, and isolation that hinder teenagers from optimal performance in class, sports, and interpersonal relationships.

Before we continue, though, please bear in mind that if you can improve in one area, then improvement in all areas will follow soon after. Let that sink in for a moment.

Mental Health and Performance

When I refer to performance, much of my emphasis is on athletic performance, and I am sure we all agree that such is related to performance in other areas. If social media use is hurting one’s self-esteem, the ramifications on the sports field will be noticeable. As an athlete, you must be confident in yourself and your ability, but if you have a negative self-image as a person, it is hard to leave such an image in the changing room. It is not my intention to frighten readers. However, reality can be scary, and we would be remiss in ignoring the alarming statistics regarding social media use.

In the 10- to 14-year age group, 1.1% of individuals worldwide are afflicted with depression. Individuals between the ages of 15 and 19 account for a further 2.8% (WHO, 2021). Troubled relationships with social media contribute largely to these figures, and in a 2017 study by the Pew Research Center, it was found that 13% of children aged 12 to 17 had experienced a major depressive incident within the 24 months preceding the study (Geiger & Davis, 2019). It is no coincidence that within the same age group (12 to 17), 37% of individuals have been victims of cyberbullying (Vogels, 2022).

You can imagine that teenagers who contribute to the above statistics will struggle with athletic performance because depression is not a breeding ground for any form of physicality. It can form a deep darkness that engulfs any aspirations, academically, socially, and on the sports field. In addition, social media addiction means that teenagers must get onto their phones, tablets, or computers as soon as possible and for as long as possible. Participation in sports takes a back seat, and many youngsters with athletic talent never get to put it to use.

There is nothing quite like social media to make you feel that you are not good enough. I’m afraid I can’t sugarcoat it, but the good news is that you can devise measures to counter this effect. Often, with a bit of foresight, we can prevent a backlash of nastiness and criticism because of a poorly thought-out post. To illustrate this, I would like to tell you a true story extracted and paraphrased from the Cybersmile Foundation Blog.

The teenager who penned the story is called Lucie, not her actual name, but used as a means of identity protection. Lucie, a 10th-grade student, was not invited to a particular party and vented her anger by putting up a scathing post on her spam Instagram account. Lucie said some ugly things about some of the girls invited to the party, and the overall theme was anger and resentment. A few months later, one of the partygoers found the post and shared it, causing a litany of angry comments and further backlash at school. Lucie found herself in emotional turmoil, and after several discussions and