George Pickens might not have bailed on his youth football camp at the last minute after all.

ROANOKE Va. (WFXR) – Washington Commanders’ star running back Brian Robinson Jr. made his way to the Blue Ridge area this morning. Inspiring young athletes with valuable football knowledge and hands-on football activities.

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Despite the extreme heat dozens of young athletes took to the field for a day filled with energy, excitement, and learning. The camp featured motivational lectures, skill-building stations, competitive contests, and awards.

With Robinson leading the way, the atmosphere was upbeat, creating an unforgettable experience for every player. Which was a familiar feeling Robinson remembers having when he was their age.

“I remember when I was their age, I used to go to camps and, you know, star players camps and stuff. And it was so exciting that, you know, just me coming and giving back, you know, having an opportunity to give back and was seeing these kids light up and seeing these parents and stuff this. So it’s all to not bring their kids out in 100 degrees to just come out here and get some work with me. I really appreciate it, ” says Robinson.

Each child also got the chance to learn hot to build their confidence and character while learning and playing the game of football.

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Guest columnist Emma Trost is a recent Baldwin Wallace University graduate with a major in psychology and minors in neuroscience and statistics. A Norwalk, Ohio, native, she was also a member of the BW women’s tennis team. In her final semester, she explored positive psychology and the meaning of happiness with Professor Jen Perry. This fall, she’ll begin graduate studies in counselor education and school counseling at The Ohio State University.

How much of athletic performance is mental?

As a student-athlete in my final collegiate season, I have experienced the mental challenges firsthand. I’m also a recent psychology graduate of Baldwin Wallace University, where I took a course in positive psychology.

In class, we didn’t just study positive psychology; we practiced it.

Some of the activities taught skills that can greatly benefit athletes: reframing negative outcomes, building resilience and appreciating your sport.

Coaches can utilize positive psychology to enhance the performance and overall well-being of athletes.

As an athlete, I know losses can trigger a black-and-white view of performance: If you lose, you performed poorly; if you won, you performed well.

This idea is documented in a Peak Performance Sports video titled “Perfectionist Athletes and All or None Thinking.”

To combat this mindset, I suggest a practice from class called a “Gratitude Wall” — daily notes of gratitude displayed on a wall.

Even on tough days, we can find something we are grateful for. This shifts our perspective — a concept called “positive reframing.”

Now, imagine this display of gratitude in a locker room.

Athletes need to learn that loss isn’t failure — it’s a learning opportunity. Daily gratitude helps them learn how to find positives in setbacks, reframing them into growth.

To quote my old coach, “There’s no such thing as winners and losers, only winners and learners.”

Imagine losing the first set of a tennis match 0-6. Could you bounce back and win the next two consecutive sets to win the match?

Athletes must push through with grit when things go sideways. But being comfortable with discomfort isn’t natural.

In my BW class, we tackled this by taking the VIA Character Strengths Survey. It ranks your 24 strengths, revealing your top strengths and also your “lesser strengths.”

We challenged ourselves to commit 30 minutes weekly to activities that engaged our lesser strengths. It’s uncomfortable, anxiety-inducing and you might want to quit. But that’s the point.

Coaches, challenge your athletes to this: 30 minutes a week. It’s a small way to practice being uncomfortable, building mental toughness and resilience.

Then, losing that first set won’t break them; they’ll have the resilience to fight back and win.

For many athletes, their sport is their whole life and identity. So then, why do so many of them quit?

The answer is often a loss of passion, otherwise known as “burnout.” USA Today reported in 2020 that “70 percent of kids drop out of youth sports by age 13.”

To tackle this, I propose an activity from class called “savoring” — consciously appreciating the present. It’s a practice advocated by academic researchers Dr. Eleanor Su-Keene and Dr. David Matthews.

The skill of savoring takes practice, so start small: a Hershey’s Kiss. Unwrap it, feel it melt, taste it. That’s savoring.

Then, savor a joyful moment, staying present, knowing you’ll remember it.

How could this help athletes? Show them what savoring feels like, then teach them to savor practices and competitions. By savoring the experience of their sport, athletes maintain passion, combating burnout.

Too often athletes quickly move from one event to the next, never truly enjoying the moment.

Coaches, add these positive psychology practices to training. Mental toughness, positive reframing and savoring aren’t innate; teach them through simple activities, giving athletes a foundation to continue developing these skills.

Athletic success demands mental work as much as physical.

Readers are invited to submit Opinion page essays on topics of regional or general interest. Send your 500-word essay for consideration to Ann Norman at anorman@cleveland.com. Essays must include a brief bio and headshot of the writer. Essays rebutting today’s topics are also welcome.

Shiprock native one of the most decorated hoop stars from Navajo Nation

Analyss Benally signs basketball for campgoers during a recent event. Benally, from Shiprock, frequently hosts basketball camps foryouth across the Navajo Nation. (Courtesy Photo)

FARMINGTON – A youth basketball camp will take place at Shiprock Northwest High School this week featuring Analyss Benally, one of the more decorated athletes from San Juan County and across the Navajo Nation.

The camp will be held Tuesday and Wednesday for boys and girls from third through 12th grade. The camp will feature Benally teaching basketball skills to youths from across the region and is free of charge for all those who register for the event.

Benally, born and raised in Shiprock, is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. She attended Wichita Heights High School in Wichita, Kansas. During her prep career, Benally was a four-year varsity player and scored over 1,000 points. Benally was named three-time Wichita Eagle All-City League, three-time Wichita Eagle All-Class 5A, Sports in Kansas Class 5A Honoree and 2016 Navajo Times All-Star.

Following her prep career, Benally attended San Jose State University and became one of the top 3-point shooters in the Mountain West Conference. As a sophomore, Benally finished her collegiate career in 2021 as one of the top ten in school history with 3-point field goals made.

Benally played professionally immediately after college in Europe with teams in Romania and Albania. She was named Eurobasket.com All-Albanian League during her time in the pros.

Benally will be playing professionally yet again this year, having recently signed a deal with with ZKK Zadar Plus in Croatia.

During the offseason, Benally returns to New Mexico where she hosts free basketball camps and participates in speaking engagements to tell her story in hopes of inspiring, encouraging and uplifting native youth to never stop working toward their dreams.

Additionally, Benally made her acting debut in the 2024 Netflix movie Rez Ball directed by Sydney Freeland and produced by LeBron James.

For more information about the camp, call (505) 360-9613 or contact Shiprock Northwest High School at (505) 368-2157.

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Girls from third grade to eighth grade can work on their basketball skills over the summer as Panorama’s Girls Basketball Camp begins on Monday, June 30th to July 3rd. Registration for the camp is available until the 30th.

The camp will begin at 8:30am and go until 12pm every day from June 30th till July 3rd. Each day the girls attending the camp will receive instructions on basketball fundamentals and participate in contests including free throws, shooting, dribbling and more. Everyone will play in games each day as well at the Panorama Girls Basketball Camp.

The four day camp begins on Monday for girls entering third grade to eighth grade with registration still available for the basketball camp until Monday, June 30th.

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