Published: August 12, 2025 |
Author: Abbie Cochrane |
Read Time: 3 minutes

Cedar City, UTAH-

The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) hosted strength and physical conditioning experts from all over the United States at their annual conference July 16-19 in Kansas City, Missouri. Three recent graduates from Southern Utah University’s Master of Science in Sports Conditioning and Performance program were in attendance, presenting their own research at the conference.

Shayla Piccini, one of the SUU graduates, presented on her survey-based study thesis surrounding female athletes at SUU.

“My research focuses specifically on female athletes’ mental health, which is often understudied compared to male athletes,” said Piccini. “By exploring topics like grit, athlete burnout, and sport anxiety, I hope to contribute to the growing conversation around supporting female athletes and provide valuable insights that others can build on in both research and practice.”

Featuring keynote speakers, hands-on sessions, networking opportunities, and the latest advancements in the sports and conditioning industry, the NSCA National Conference is one of the most prominent and well-established conferences within the field.

“The NSCA runs the Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, which is one of the more highly respected journals in the strength & conditioning industry. Getting the abstract for my research published in this journal is a big reason why I was able to present at the conference,” said another SUU graduate presenter, Mike Hammond.

“I attended the NSCA National Conference in 2023 as a viewer, and it made a huge impact on me,” said Piccini. “Seeing the quality of research and professional dialogue inspired me to be more than just a participant; I wanted to contribute to the field and be part of the conversation. Presenting at this conference felt like the perfect opportunity to share my own work and give back to the strength and conditioning community.”

SUU’s MSSCP Program Director, Dr. Marcus Lawrence, played a key role in helping this trio of presenters get the opportunity to present their research.

The presenters also provided their insights to any SUU student who is interested in finding ways to present their research.

“Go for it! If you have something valuable to share, why not contribute to the conversation and connect with like-minded people? The worst outcome is a “no,” and even then, that just means there’s another opportunity out there that might be a better fit. Don’t be afraid to ask your professors for advice, and remember that writing a thesis and conducting research is totally doable, even if it feels overwhelming at first. There’s so much support out there, and you won’t know what opportunities are waiting unless you try!” stated Piccini.

“Find a research subject that you are passionate about. It makes the process much easier and keeps motivation levels high,” Hammond said. “If you’re passionate about the subject, the quality of your work will be higher as well. This experience has taught me just how much work or process there is in creating published research, and it really makes me appreciate the quality of published articles.”

SUU congratulates Shayla Piccini, Mike Hammond, and Logan Welling on this wonderful opportunity. To learn more about the NSCA National Conference, visit their website to see a recap of the keynote speakers and other unbeatable features of the conference.

SUU’s Masters of Science in Sports Conditioning and Performance degree program provides students with opportunities to further build upon their understanding of sport conditioning and human performance based on what was learned throughout their undergraduate degree. The program sets students up to succeed through research-based knowledge paired with practical application. To learn more about the program, visit their page on the SUU website.

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Contact Information:

Brooke Heath
435-586-5400
brookeheath1@suu.edu

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVVA) – Athletes around the mountain state will now be able to receive payments for their name and likeness.

The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission first approved this NIL policy back in July and it went into effect this past Friday.

NIL has swept through college athletics since 2021 however there are caveats for players to get paid.

If a player uses their likeness for a commercial, for example, there can be no references to their school and cannot be wearing a school logo or uniform in order to protect their eligibility as an amateur athlete.

No school employees, including coaches, can be involved in a student’s use of their NIL.

Athletes and parents are encouraged to reach out to the WVSSAC Director of Compliance for questions to ensure no issues arise with eligibility.

Questions can be emails to jason.bankston@wvssac.org.

Copyright 2025 WVVA. All rights reserved.

SALEM, Va. (WFXR) — School is right around the corner, and so is the fall sports season.

Sunday afternoon, Salem High School hosted licensed clinical psychologist and Spartan alum Dr. Rachel Turk for a conversation on mental health among student-athletes.

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“Big transitions like coming to school or a new school year or a new school in general, starting a new sports season are all things that build up levels of stress,” said Turk, who was a standout volleyball and lacrosse player at Salem High School before going on to play college volleyball at nearby University of Lynchburg.

On Sunday, Turk spoke not only to student-athletes but also to coaches and parents about how to identify when their athlete or child may be struggling.

“It’s something that’s happening so often,” she said. “But not everybody has the resources or knows what they need to be looking for.”

Universities focus on athletes’ mental health after crises

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According to Turk, as many as 35% of elite athletes experience a mental health crisis at some point in their careers.

Because emotional development is still in its early stages among high school students, those athletes can be at heightened risk of struggling emotionally.

“That is why we kind of target this group, get them the information as early as we can because if we can make a difference now, it’s going to help them be more successful the rest of their life,” said Turk.

Turk says professional athletes speaking out more often about mental health has lessened the stigma for college and high school athletes, but she knows there is still more work to be done.

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“I think one of the ways we can really improve is seeing it like we see different physical stuff going on,” she said. “Seeing it like something we need to do maintenance of, not just do things in crisis or emergency situations.”

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.

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ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – In this day in age, smartphones are everywhere.

Now, local health professionals are encouraging parents to create a family media plan, setting screen-use boundaries and priorities.

A recent study from the Journal of the American Medical Association shows increased screen time among children under 13 is linked to suicidal behaviors.

For many families, smartphones are a part of everyday life.

Children use them to communicate with parents, for entertainment, and to study, but health professionals say smartphones also come with a lot of risk, especially for a developing brain.

With 4,285 children averaging around the age of 10, the study showed that one-third of the participants are addicted to social media or smartphones beginning at age 11.

The study findings also indicate that increased smartphone addiction is associated with a higher risk of suicide-related outcomes compared to those who have less screen time.

Dr. Joshua Stein, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Prairie Care in Rochester, said he sees a number of ways phones and social media affect kids.

“One is the craving to use it, the loss of engagement and time…One is developing negative viewpoints of oneself. We see kids who are preyed upon,” Dr. Stein said.

Dr. Stein agrees parents shouldn’t consider children under age 13 to use a smart phone.

Dr. Stein suggests families limit their kids’ time on devices to minimal use.

“By offering phones for boredom, offering phones for distraction constantly, we undermine their ability to develop those skills and that will carry with them into adulthood and beyond.”

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KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — In a small corner of the Youth and Sports Ministry, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee from the Bike And Bean café greets visitors, yet behind the pleasant scent lies the story of former cycling hero Mohamad Firdaus Mohd Zonis, once hailed as a great hope in Malaysia’s track cycling arena.

His name began to make waves among local sports fans in 2014 when he delivered a bronze medal at the World Junior Track Cycling Championships, an achievement that established him as one of the nation’s most promising prospects.

That triumph at a young age made him the first Malaysian since Adiq Husainie (2008) to step onto the podium in the men’s 1-kilometre time trial, earning him a place among the successors to national cycling legend Datuk Azizulhasni Awang.

The achievement was further cemented by the national junior record in the 200-metre sprint, which still stands to this day, a silent testament to his prowess on the track.

However, behind the cheers and podium finishes lay a story seldom told — the physical exhaustion, mental pressure, and injuries that gradually eroded his fighting spirit.

“Moving up to the senior level, the training got heavier. I felt I wasn’t good enough even though I gave my best. Small recurring injuries eventually became a big burden,” said Firdaus, recalling the period when his passion began to fade.

Everything came to a head when he was diagnosed with L4 and L5 slip disc injuries, forcing him to make the painful decision to end a career he had dreamed of since childhood far earlier than expected.

Although he once sank into disappointment, Firdaus found his own way to rise again after hanging up his bike — by shifting his path to bicycle repairs.

For Firdaus, success does not necessarily come in the form of medals hanging around the neck, but in the ability to get back up, find life’s meaning after sport, and most importantly, heal oneself.

“I hope there will be more awareness about burnout among young athletes, so they know they are not alone and that there is support if they need it,” he said.

Firdaus’ experience is not an isolated case, as former national junior tennis player Wan Abdul Muiz Wan Aziz went through a similar phase.

Once ranked sixth in Malaysia at the age of 16, Wan Abdul Muiz admitted that early success came with extraordinary pressure.

The Kelantan-born athlete, who started playing tennis at the age of 10, was once considered one of the country’s brightest talents, but the glitter came at a heavy price.

“People think kids just enjoy playing. But the pressure from coaches, parents, or even oneself is very heavy.

“At one point I felt lazy to train and started to question what all this meant,” he said.

Training for eight to 10 hours a day while juggling academic responsibilities and high expectations caused Muiz to lose interest in the sport he once loved. What made it worse was that requests for help were often met with stigma.

“Our culture sometimes assumes that if you can’t take it, you’re weak. Mental health support for young athletes is very limited. Many don’t understand the emotional burden we carry,” he said.

The stories of Firdaus and Muiz are a reminder that behind the roaring cheers lies the silent side of sports — a challenge that demands more than just physical strength, but also resilience of the heart and mental well-being. — Bernama