In this episode of The Women's Game, soccer player Bethany Balcer opens up about the mental health challenges athletes face, including her own experience with anxiety during a game. She advocates for open discussions on mental health and redefining success in sports beyond traditional metrics.
The episode also delves into Balcer's unconventional path to professional soccer, bypassing the typical NCAA route. As an undrafted rookie with the Seattle Reign, she won Rookie of the Year, highlighting her unique journey. Additionally, Balcer shares her efforts in advocating for equal investment in women's sports and supporting the next generation of aspiring female athletes.
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Bethany Balcer, a soccer player, highlights the mental health challenges athletes face, including her own experience with anxiety during a game. Balcer advocates for open discussions about mental health and redefining success in sports beyond traditional metrics.
In 2020, Balcer had her first panic attack during an NWSL game. As she couldn't catch her breath, she had to exit. This made Balcer realize anxiety isn't discussed enough in sports, leading her to fear seeking help.
Balcer now works with a personal therapist to understand her anxiety and a sports psychologist for strategies to manage it. According to Balcer, anxiety doesn't prevent success - it's about learning to work with it through tools like journaling.
Balcer studies counseling inspired by her journey. She stresses the importance of reframing mental health perspectives and not limiting success to just scoring goals, as challenges can be managed constructively.
Balcer's road to pro soccer with Seattle Reign bypassed the typical NCAA route. Instead, she played at a small NAIA school, excelling with 129 goals before connecting with NWSL coaches.
Remarkably, Balcer made an NWSL team as an undrafted rookie and won Rookie of the Year, highlighting her unique journey.
On social media, Balcer advocates for equal investment into women's sports. Drawing from her experience with scarcity of funds, she champions growth to enhance future opportunities.
Balcer actively supports the next generation, like fundraising over $3,000 for her alma mater's program, paving the way for aspiring female athletes.
1-Page Summary
Bethany Balcer, a professional soccer player, brings to the forefront the mental health challenges athletes face, emphasizing the importance of addressing anxiety and redefining success in sports.
During her second professional season in 2020, Bethany Balcer experienced a panic attack on the field which prevented her from catching her breath and continuing the game.
Balcer had to ask to be taken off the field when she found herself unable to breathe during a National Women's Soccer League game, signaling to her that something was wrong.
Once on the sidelines, Balcer collapsed, succumbing to a panic attack. The episode prompted confusion among onlookers and resulted in a flurry of concerned texts, to which Balcer responded by informing everyone of the incident.
This personal experience led Balcer to an important realization: that anxiety isn't discussed enough in the realm of sports. She was afraid due to the lack of dialogue and awareness around mental health issues in her industry.
Balcer is actively working with a personal therapist and a sports psychologist to manage her anxiety and redefine personal success beyond traditional metrics like scoring goals.
She works with a therapist to understand what she's experiencing and a sports psychologist to deal with soccer-specific issues. The psychologist gives her concrete strategies, which are of great help to her.
Journaling has become an essential tool for Balcer, who keeps records of her thoughts and experiences. Her sessions with her therapist have helped her acknowledge her mental state and its ...
Mental health challenges in sports
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Bethany Balser's journey to becoming a forward for Seattle Reign in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is far from typical, as it bypassed the NCAA route that many professional players take and instead wound through the NAIA system.
Bethany Balser considered Spring Arbor University largely because it was a family-oriented choice; her sister attended the same school. This affinity for the familiar, along with a limiting knee injury during her critical sophomore year of high school, determined her path. As a result, her recruitment prospects to larger schools were likely affected, and her sights were set squarely on playing college soccer, not professionally.
Despite not actively pursuing a professional career from the outset, Balser's college tenure was remarkable. She experienced a championship victory during her freshman year alongside her sister, who was a senior.
Over the course of her college career, Balser excelled, scoring 129 goals in 98 games. This feat led to her recognition within the institution, culminating in her induction into the SAU Athletic Hall of Fame.
The exact steps she took after her time at Spring Arbor and how she connected with ...
Balcer's unique path to pro soccer
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Bethany Balcer, a renowned female athlete, is an active voice on social media on several issues, including the expansion of women's sports opportunities. Balcer is known for addressing and correcting misconceptions, educating people about the growth and potential excitement in women's sports, and championing mental health awareness. Despite encountering trolling and misogyny, Balcer persists in responding and fighting back against wrongful narratives, aiming to foster a more accurate appreciation for women's sports.
She draws on her experience at Spring Arbor, where there was a scarcity of funds, to highlight the importance of increased financial support. Balcer hopes that growth in professional leagues will have a trickle-down effect, subsequently enhancing conditions at lower levels as well.
Balcer's actions off the field demonstrate her commitment to fostering the dev ...
Growth of women's sports opportunities
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