Sports psychology is the study of how psychological factors influence athletic performance and an athlete’s well-being. It involves strategies to support athletes in maintaining mental resilience, motivation, confidence, and healthy approaches to growth and improvement.
As the discussion around this element of athletics grows worldwide, coaches, athletes, and program heads are considering ways to implement sports psychology into training programs. As sports psychology develops a larger role in coaching and athletic performance, athletes are set up with healthy training and lifestyle habits. Through the study, coaches can address focus, team dynamics, and injury recovery, according to Speakstone.
In elite and professional athletics settings, sports psychology is garnering attention and attribution for positive changes in team dynamics, athlete happiness, and performance outcomes. England’s football team’s success at the 2018 World Cup, much of which was attributed to the team’s sports psychology, according to ESPN.
Mitigating anxiety at games or meets and building the mental strength required to be adaptable during tough games or practices are among the many applications of sports psychology. England’s psychologist worked to build team relationships and culture as well as resilience in the athletes, after which the team saw an increase in success in their performance and general experience in games.
The kind of attention that this addition to the team resulted in, however, reflects the social attitude around mental health and its connection with physical performance. Press headlines and social media activity following the team’s success poked fun at the idea that psychological intervention was involved and relayed a message that this was surprising and abnormal, according to ESPN. This only further exacerbates the issue of mental health being a taboo topic, especially in contexts like athletic spheres, where physical strength is primarily celebrated.
However, physical strength and health, for that matter, are deeply interconnected with emotional regulation and mental well-being. According to Frontiers, athletes under chronic stress or mental fatigue may face slower injury recovery or higher injury risk overall.
College athletics is no exception when it comes to the influence of sports psychology. In fact, the study’s applications are especially relevant to college athletes because they are confronted with balancing their academic lives with physically and mentally demanding training schedules and competitive seasons. Dedicating time and effort to maintaining healthy habits that support their mental health as well as their physical health can help student-athletes stay grounded during busy, stressful seasons.
Furthermore, college athletes are in a unique position to make an impact regarding the stigma around mental health. Though it may not be to the extent of professional athletes, college athletes are still figures who attract admiration and support from friends, students, sports fans, and the communities around. By embracing sports psychology elements in their routines and the value of mind-body wellness to their athletic careers, they can influence those around them to consider the importance of mental balance and emotional regulation. This ultimately contributes to building a culture of young students who engage in thoughtful discussion around mental health.
Getting a larger community of students to see psychological health as a key element to athletics will promote the viability of these ideas for generations to come. Students can pass this perspective down to younger athletes in their lives, whether it be their siblings, youth sports teams they coach, or even their own kids someday. This sets the next generation of young athletes up with the skills to maintain stronger mental and physical health, as well as effective relationships with training and performance.
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals will celebrate Youth Hockey Weekend from Jan. 2-4, highlighted by Youth Hockey Night presented by GEICO on Saturday, Jan. 3, when the Capitals host the Chicago Blackhawks at Capital One Arena. The weekend’s festivities celebrate and spotlight the Capitals’ array of on- and off-ice programming designed to engage youth from across the Washington, D.C., region with hockey. The Capitals offer more than 30 ways to play hockey through on- and off-ice programming for participants age four and above, and more than 27,000 individuals have participated in a Caps Youth Hockey event since 2018.
Highlights of the Capitals’ celebration of youth hockey include:
The Capitals will host an ALL CAPS ALL HER (ACAH) clinic and a co-ed youth hockey clinic at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Friday, Jan. 2. Led by Caps Youth Hockey Development program instructors and ambassadors, the clinics will focus on development and competitive games. They will also feature appearances by Capitals alumni Craig Laughlin and Paul Mulvey.
The ACAH platform aims to provide access to hockey and elevate the game for women and girls in the Washington, D.C., area, while recognizing players, coaches, parents, advocates and leaders in the community. Since the platform’s launch in 2021, ACAH programs and events have engaged over 5,000 women and girls with the sport of hockey. Click here for more information on the platform.
Saturday, Jan. 3 – Open Practice | MedStar Capitals Iceplex
Youth hockey players are encouraged to attend Capitals practice on Sunday, Jan. 3 while wearing their youth hockey jerseys. Any attendee who arrives wearing their youth hockey or program jersey will receive a giveaway item.
Saturday, Jan. 3 – Youth Hockey Night presented by GEICO | Capital One Arena
The Capitals will celebrate Youth Hockey Night presented by GEICO on Saturday, Jan. 3, when the team hosts the Chicago Blackhawks at Capital One Arena at 7 p.m. All fans who purchase tickets for that night’s game here will receive a roll of Capitals stick tape.
Pre-Game Arrivals: Select youth hockey players from throughout the region will walk with Capitals players during pre-game arrivals. Each Capitals player will be paired with a local youth player, with both wearing the youth player’s team jersey.
The youth players will represent the American Special Hockey Association, Capitals Inline Hockey League (a co-ed league established to provide a unified travel league for existing inline hockey players looking to expand their opportunities to play), high schools and youth hockey clubs. These teams include: Active Play, Ashburn Xtreme, Fauquier Dragons, Fort Dupont Cannons, Frederick Gargoyles, Fredericksburg Phantoms, Landon School Bears, Madison Wildfire, Montgomery Cheetahs, Montgomery Ice Devils, Navy Youth Hockey, NOVA Fury, Piedmont Predators, Potomac Lady Patriots, Reston Raiders, Richmond Renegades, Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, The St. James, Tucker Road Ducks Washington Pride and Winchester Revolution.
Warmups: Six youth hockey players from ACAH, Future Caps Learn to Play presented by World Wide Technology and the Capitals Rising Stars Academy will watch warmups on the Capitals bench.
Starting Lineups: Six players from Future Caps Learn to Play presented by World Wide Technology will take to the ice with the Capitals starting lineup in honor of Youth Hockey Day. A participant from Future Caps Learn to Play will read the team’s starting lineup with PA announcer Wes Johnson.
In-Game Elements: In-arena entertainment and social content throughout the evening will highlight Capitals Youth Hockey programming. This includes the jumbotron showing Capitals players during their youth hockey days. Additionally, two local youth referees will meet that night’s NHL referees before joining them on the ice for the national anthem. The first intermission Mites on Ice presented by BMW will be comprised of players from the Piedmont Predators 8U team, and the second intermission will feature a relay race presented by GEICOwith players from the Piedmont Predators and Montgomery Youth Hockey Association Ice Devils 14U teams.
Sunday, Jan. 4 – Youth Hockey Events | The Wharf
To conclude the weekend’s festivities, the Capitals will host a Future Caps Learn to Play class and a Capitals Rising Stars Academy family skate at The Wharf on Sunday, Jan. 4.
Future Caps Learn to Play presented by World Wide Technology: The initiative is developed in collaboration with the National Hockey League (NHL) and National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA). The NHL and NHLPA have identified the need for a unified growth strategy as a priority for the sport of hockey. The Future Caps Learn to Play program aims to be the gold standard for youth hockey programs with the goal of inspiring more families to join the hockey community. Learn to Play changes the way youth hockey is offered by providing first-time participants free head-to-toe equipment, eight classes of age appropriate on-ice instruction and certified coaching in a fun and safe atmosphere. Click here for more information or to register for the program.
Rising Stars Academy (RSA): The Capitals Rising Stars Academy advances diversity, equity and inclusion in hockey by offering elite skill development and mentorship for local hockey players of color and their families. Through onice training, office conditioning and guided discussions about hockey culture, the RSA builds both physical and mental strength. Click here for more information or to register for the RSA.
Youth Hockey Development in the Washington, D.C., Region
The Capitals offer more than 30 ways to play hockey through on- and off-ice programming for participants age four and above, and more than 27,000 individuals have participated in a Caps Youth Hockey event since 2018. To date, the Capitals have refurbished or built 14 outdoor street/inline hockey rinks across Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and West Virginia to further encourage participation in hockey. According to USA Hockey, overall, there’s been significant growth in participation in the D.C. area since Alex Ovechkin was drafted. The total number of USA Hockey-registered players (youth and adult) in the Washington D.C. area climbed more than 186 percent from 2005-06 through 2024-25, and 70% across the region as a whole during the same time frame.
For additional information on Caps Youth Hockey programming, visit CapsYouthHockey.com.
ATHENS — A Colquitt County student is among 30 high school students who’ve been selected for the Youth LEAD Georgia 2026 cohort.
Elizabeth Redding will join her peers for a transformative year-long leadership initiative facilitated by the University of Georgia’s J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development in partnership with Chick-fil-A, according to a press release from Youth LEAD Georgia.
The program equips youth with the skills and knowledge necessary to tackle challenges that impact Georgia’s vitality as future leaders of the state, the press release said. A $1.5 million pledge from Chick-fil-A to the UGA Fanning Institute provides financial support for Youth LEAD Georgia. Thanks to this support, the program is available at no cost to participants.
These 10th- and 11th-grade students, representing 27 different counties, were reviewed by an external selection committee from a record pool of nominations, reflecting growing interest and competitiveness in the program.
Participants will take part in four weekend retreats held throughout the year in different regions of the state, a week-long summer bus tour visiting areas not covered in the retreats and a two-day statewide youth summit in Athens. Experiential learning is accompanied by dialogue on current topics facing the state, and interaction with business and community leaders.
Alongside hands-on learning, participants can apply for Bullard Community Champions grants, using their newly acquired skills to lead impactful community service projects in their local areas. These grants are made possible through funding from Regions Bank and Rodney Bullard, CEO of The Same House.
Time Out Sports Bar has announced it will also cease operations at its current location, with its final day of business set for Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. Notices posted at the bar invite the community to attend a “last day of business” event that day, with all bartenders scheduled to be on site from 3 p.m. until close.
According to the notice, customers who have funds remaining on the bar’s sweepstakes machines will be given a two-week window to cash out. Management stated that specific times for cash-out availability will be posted.
Time Out Sports Bar also indicated plans to relocate and said information about its new location will be shared on the business’s Facebook page.
The building housing both Margaritas and Time Out Sports Bar has been sold to a new owner. As of publication, the identity of the buyer and any future plans for the property have not been publicly disclosed.
However, according to filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, a new Denny’s restaurant will occupy one of two lease spaces attached to a new convenience store development called Q-Mart, which is set to be located at 10280 W. Hwy. 29–is the same address as Margaritas.
Plans for the Q-Mart include an 11,766-square-foot main building, two fuel canopies, and a second lease space that remains open for a future tenant. The privately funded project carries an estimated construction cost of $3 million. Work is expected to begin in March 2026, with completion anticipated by February 2027.
A commercial demolition permit for Margaritas’ playground, covered wood deck and canopies was approved in December 2025 to occur Jan. 5.
Follow The Independent for more information on this developing story.
GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio — Akron Garfield and Euclid stole the show Sunday during the NEO Youth Elite Christmas Classic at Garfield Heights High School with their double-overtime thriller.
It took two buzzer-beaters by the Rams’ Rayshawn Hamilton and Monty Thompson Jr. in both overtimes to lift Garfield to a 73-71 win against Euclid. Afterward, they were greeted in the locker room by the hosts from Garfield Heights ahead of the Bulldogs’ game with Glenville.
Both share the name, Garfield, and both are in Division III for OHSAA postseason play.
They could meet in March, but both put on shows Sunday during the five-game showcase. Here are the standout performances to go with the highlights in this post:
Mekhi Asberry, Euclid
Had Akron Garfield not hit so many clutch shots, it would have been Asberry’s shooting that lifted Euclid (5-3).
The Panthers’ sophomore guard scored 19 points and knocked down five 3-pointers in their double-overtime loss. He played off junior guard Tyree Williamson and 6-foot-8 forward Kye Owens, who scored 18 points with 10 rebounds.
Dereon Barber, Richmond Heights
His older brother, De’Erick, is Ohio’s all-time leader in assists after starting four years at Richmond Heights. Now a sophomore, Dereon follows in his footsteps as the Spartans’ starting point guard on a new-look team for first-year coach Mel Burke Jr.
The younger Barber controlled the tempo early in Richmond Heights’ 74-56 win against Orange to start Sunday’s showcase. He finished with 21 points and three assists, including two to senior guard Khyell Moreland, who scored 20 points and hit four 3-pointers. The Spartans (5-5) returned to .500 and bounced back from a seven-point loss last week to defending Division III state champion Louisville.
Rayshawn Hamilton, Akron Garfield
Hamilton’s 27 points carried the Rams for much of their thriller vs. Euclid. The 6-4 guard also grabbed nine rebounds, as Garfield outmuscled a lengthier Euclid team.
Chris Hill, Lutheran East
Lutheran East beat Warrensville Heights at its own game with a tenacious defense and quick passing offense. Hill led the Falcons (6-0) in both of those aspects for their 60-38 win, as he dished out seven assists with three steals and 11 points.
Marcus Johnson, Garfield Heights
Mr. Basketball is out to keep his crown this season, and Sunday’s 40-point effort is another addition to the resume. The Bulldogs’ standout guard and South Carolina commit knocked down seven 3-pointers in a 74-70 win against Glenville. Three of those 3s came in the fourth quarter, as the Bulldogs (4-4) built a 15-point lead.
Johnson scored 17 points in the fourth quarter.
Aaron Lewis, Orange
A freshman guard, Lewis came off the bench to score 22 points in the Lions’ loss to Richmond Heights. He is the nephew of Trey Lewis, who starred at Garfield Heights before a professional career that now has him playing overseas and most notably a run with the Utah Jazz.
Greg Price, Hawken
Hawken (8-1) held off Rhodes’ rally, as four of its starting five led the way. Price earned MVP honors from the Hawks’ 87-80 win, as he scored 24 points and made repeated trips to the free-throw line down the stretch. He also dished out five assists.
Sophomore guard Ice Taylor scored a game-high 25 points, while Daron Hill added 12 and Charlie Mallett had 10, but Price set the tone early and took responsibility for his team’s turnovers that led the Rams back into it.
Hawken is playing back-to-back games against Cleveland Senate League teams and has a rematch from last season’s Division IV state semifinals coming Sunday against Glenville at Euclid for the Scholastic Play By Play Classic.
Gio Ramos, Glenville
Ramos is a newcomer for the Tarblooders, who made it to last season’s Division IV state finals. The junior steps into the big forward spot for a Glenville team that graduated leading scorer Xavier Vickerstaff and played a role similar to him against the Bulldogs with 14 points and 16 rebounds.
Monty Thompson Jr., Akron Garfield
Thompson, a junior guard who came off the bench for coach McNeal Thompson III, is quickly developing a reputation as a clutch shooter.
He made some big shots this summer at the Midwest Live showcase in Sandusky and continued Sunday in one of the Rams’ biggest tests to date. Thompson scored 17 points, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the third quarter and his baseline jumper to beat Euclid in the second overtime.
Dylan Zeigler, Lutheran East
The sophomore guard, who has big offers including Ohio State, led the Falcons with 20 points in their revenge game against Warrensville Heights after the Tigers beat them last year at this showcase.
After arriving in Fayetteville, it doesn’t take long to realize that sports are woven into the city’s DNA. From Razorback game days to the cyclists on our trails to families filling fields and courts across the region, this is a community that moves.
And that movement represents far more than recreation. It is one of the strongest economic opportunities ahead of us.
Sports tourism has grown into one of the most powerful, reliable economic engines in the country. According to the Sports Events & Tourism Association, spectator sports tourism generated $47.1 billion in direct spending last year, supporting more than 665,000 jobs nationwide. Youth and amateur sports, everything from tournaments to camps to regional competitions, contributed even more, with $52.2 billion in travel-related spending. These visitors stay in hotels, eat in local restaurants, shop in stores, and explore outdoor assets, leaving a meaningful mark on local economies.
In Arkansas, that story is magnified. Outdoor recreation alone contributed $7.3 billion to the statewide economy in 2023, supporting more than 68,000 jobs. And tourism reached $17.4 billion in economic impact in 2024, with Northwest Arkansas playing a major role in that growth.
Ryan Hauck
At a time when leisure and business travel have softened nationally, sports-related travel has continued to rise, providing a level of stability and resilience that communities increasingly depend on. When communities like Fayetteville lean into their strengths — outdoor recreation, hospitality, accessibility and local culture — the returns are significant.
Fayetteville is uniquely positioned to lead the state and region in this space. We’re home to a thriving SEC city, incredible year-round weather, world-class outdoor recreation, a variety of indoor sporting facilities, and a welcoming culture that makes competitors and travelers feel instantly at home.
Our community has also invested intentionally in the infrastructure that makes sports tourism possible. Centennial Park is a perfect example. Purpose-built to host world-class cycling events, it has already welcomed the 2022 UCI Cyclocross World Championships and will host the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships this December, and again next year. These events don’t just bring athletes. They bring national attention, media coverage, and significant economic impact for our hotels and hospitality businesses.
And that momentum extends well beyond cycling. In the past year, organizations such as the Women’s Football League, Athletes Unlimited Softball League, and the Marshall Islands Soccer Federation have approached us about hosting events in Fayetteville. Their interest reinforces what the sports community already knows: Our city is emerging as a national-caliber sports destination.
But the value of sports tourism extends beyond visitor spending. It strengthens identity and builds civic pride. It brings families together. It activates public spaces and showcases the best of who we are. In my previous role in Cody, Wyo., I saw firsthand how powerful it can be when a community rallies around its strengths and invites the world to experience them. In Fayetteville, that same opportunity is in front of us, and we are already leaning in.
The path is clear: We need to continue investing strategically. That means purpose-built sports facilities and deeper partnerships across the region. If we continue investing with intention, collaborating across sectors, and telling our story with clarity and authenticity, Fayetteville can set the standard for what a modern, movement-driven destination looks like.
The momentum is already here. Our job now is to harness it and to make sure the world knows exactly why Fayetteville is a place worth traveling to, competing in, and coming back to again and again.
Editor’s note: Ryan Hauck is CEO of Experience Fayetteville, the city’s tourism marketing agency. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
