Sports betting involves placing monetary wagers on the outcomes of sporting events, ranging from mainstream to niche competitions. Its rising popularity has made it a significant aspect of both fan engagement and player involvement in the world of sports.
Fan betting involves placing bets on sports events for entertainment, including friendly wagers, fantasy sports leagues, and online betting, driven by motivations like enhancing excitement and testing sports knowledge, yet it poses risks such as financial losses and gambling-related harm.
Player betting refers to the involvement of athletes or sports professionals in placing bets on sporting events, potentially including those in which they are directly participating. Some players sports bet even though they are playing. For example, in article written by ESPN it highlights Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley who downloaded a gambling app, deposited $1,500, and bet on NBA and NFL games, including betting on his current team at the time the Falcons as a result he was called in front of NFL investigators to be questioned about the bets in November 2021 and ultimately suspended for the entire 2022 NFL season (DiRocco 3). And many people feel as a direct result of any decision like this a player lacks integrity and ethics for a game, they spend their entire life trying to make it too.
The legal status of sports betting varies across jurisdictions, with some countries permitting it under strict regulations, while others have banned or heavily restricted it. Regulatory measures typically include licensing requirements, age restrictions, and consumer protection measures, but their effectiveness can vary depending on enforcement and oversight mechanisms.
Gambling can have the same effect on you as being addicted to drugs or alcohol that can end up leader to many bad habits. For example, an article written by the Mayo Clinic shows these potential problems “Gambling can stimulate the brain’s reward system you may continually chase bets that lead to losses, use up savings and create debt. You may hide your behavior and even turn to theft or fraud to support your addiction” (Compulsive gambling 2). Sports betting can have profound psychological effects on both fans and players, leading to heightened excitement, addictive behaviors, financial stress, ethical dilemmas, and potential damage to reputation. For many people betting is seen as just another form of entertainment but there is the problem. For example, an article titled social influences normalize gambling-related harm among higher risk gamblers highlights this “Social influences are key drivers of gambling and can begin in youth through parental modeling and facilitation. Over time, social influence from friends and colleagues also becomes important” (Russel et al 1).
Sports betting generates substantial revenue globally, contributing to the economic significance of the industry, while its impact on the sports industry includes increased viewership, sponsorship opportunities, and investments in infrastructure and technology. Ethical considerations in sports betting prompt ongoing discussions on regulation and responsible gambling, while the future outlook involves balancing commercial interests with consumer protection and social responsibility amidst technological advancements.
In conclusion, Sports betting encompasses both fan and player involvement, with fans engaging for entertainment and players potentially facing ethical dilemmas. The legal landscape varies across jurisdictions, with regulatory measures aiming to mitigate risks, while the economic significance is underscored by substantial revenue and impacts on the sports industry.
Mental health is a key factor in performance and trust in sports. According toPhyisopedia Mental health in athletics is defined as “a state of successful performance or mental function that results in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with others, and the ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity” (Wylleman et al 6).
Mental health is a valuable resource on the field. A positive state of mind enables for better decision making and overall performance. However, having a negative mental state might contribute to slow and sluggish play. Pressure’s negative influence begins with slight unhappiness and a minor decline in a person’s ability to perform. When they are under too much strain, they can feel stressed, anxious, and unhappy.
Mental responses such as worry, anxiety, loss of confidence, denial of injury, leading to irrational fear of re-injury, and a setback in performance can all have an impact on the rehabilitation process of an injury. The challenge of keeping it out of your mind. Remaining upbeat, taking advantage of the setback as a chance to grow, and remain loyal to your goals and self. Furthermore, the ability to shatter the stigma lets a great athlete be authentic and divert failure from their path.
Cultural and societal attitudes within sports often stigmatize mental health issues, hindering athletes from seeking help due to expectations of toughness and the perception of weakness associated with mental health struggles. Fear of judgment and career consequences can deter athletes from seeking mental health support, perpetuating silence and stigma in sports. Limited access to mental health resources further compounds the challenges athletes face in addressing their mental well-being, exacerbating the stigma and barriers to seeking help within the sports community.
In sports, fostering a mental health support system entail offering resources and counseling to enhance athletes’ well-being and performance. Each participant plays a critical role in this battle, including coaches, mental health education, and access to services. For instance, in an article written by Gabe Kapler he underscores the pivotal role of coaches, teammates, and support staff in addressing mental health issues in sports. Sharing that they should be a support system not a system where they are conditioned to appear bulletproof, and to suck it up (Paragraph 4).
Kapler also emphasizes the significance of mental health education and training within the sports community to destigmatize mental health issues and provide effective support systems for athletes (Paragraph 9). Additionally, he advocates for the crucial access to professional counseling and therapy services for athletes and individuals facing mental health challenges, emphasizing the need for sports organizations to prioritize mental well-being (Paragraph 10). Mental health presents a significant concern within the realm of elite athletes, where the relentless pursuit of excellence often intersects with unique challenges and pressures.
For example, an article titled Everyone Is Going Through Something by NBA player Kevin Love highlights the distinct challenges faced by elite athletes, including societal expectations of toughness and masculinity, which can discourage them from seeking assistance for mental health issues, perpetuating stigma within the sports community (Paragraph 2).
Love’s experience further underscores the delicate balance athletes must maintain between the demands of performance and the needs of their mental health. His panic attack during a game serves as a key reminder of the strain athletes encounter in navigating these competing priorities, emphasizing the crucial importance of prioritizing self-care and seeking support when facing mental health challenges (Paragraph 4).
Additionally, Love’s decision to seek therapy after his panic attack provides a notable example of successful management of mental health in sports, illustrating the significance of openness and professional help-seeking in addressing mental health concerns within the elite athlete community (Paragraph 11).
In conclusion, the significance of mental health in sports is undeniable. As athletes strive for excellence, they face unique challenges that can impact their mental well-being.
It is essential for athletic communities to prioritize mental health awareness and support, creating a culture where athletes feel empowered to prioritize self-care and seek help when needed. By promoting mental health education, reducing stigma, and ensuring access to resources, athletic communities can foster environments where athletes can thrive both in their sport and in their personal lives.
EPISODE 3: The Professional Dream By Jackson Odden Hosted by Abby Smith
Official Transcript:
[THEME SONG – ORGAN.]
Abby Smith:
Hello everyone! This is the Mustang Post: The Home Turf, our new sports podcast, where we dive into not just the home turf of Sheyenne but the home turf of the love of all sports for fans and athletes who invest themselves and their lives in their passion. In this episode, Jackson Odden speaks with two Sheyenne baseball players about how they balance sports with education and their personal lives.
Here’s Jackson.
Jackson Odden:
Hello my Name is Jackson Odden I am a sophomore at Sheyenne High School and I will be interviewing two other sophomores.
Gavin Satrom:
I’m Gavin Satrom I’m a sophomore at Sheyenne high.
Ashton Loe:
My names Ashton Loe I’m a sophomore at Sheyenne High School.
Jackson Odden:
Every child has a dream. Sometimes those dreams are as simple as getting that new toy. However, there are those times where dreams become more complex, more life-impacting, bigger than big. Something like, “I want to be a pro athlete. A pro baseball player.” But what impact would attaining a dream like that have on that child’s life and the lives of his family and friends.
However, there’s a lot that goes into building that road to becoming a pro athlete. Namely, there those seemingly simple stages like preparing for a game. Gavin, a sophomore at Sheyenne High School plays on its C team and prepares for that moment he steps up to bat versus the pitcher.
Gavin Satrom: “Well, like if you scout the pitcher, you can like see how he throws, but um, I don’t really scout pitchers that much. So, I really just get there in the game and, like, see how fast he throws and try to time him up.”
Jackson Odden:
Ashton, also a sophomore at Sheyenne high school on the C team, is a bit more focused and determined.
Ashton Loe: “When I am in the dugout or the on-deck circle I try and time him up, look at how he’s throwing what pitches he’s throwing basically all the mechanics of it.”
Jackson Odden:
In order to accomplish the goal of playing professional baseball ball you need to know what goals to have for yourself and for the future. And more specifically the goals you have in life after you have gotten your high school diploma.
Gavin Satrom: “Well, I want go to college to play baseball, and then hopefully we get to the professional level, but like if not, then something probably something in like the accounting business.”
Jackson Odden:
Ashton may share the same goals as Gavin but has a different perspective of life after high school.
Ashton Loe: “First I want to continue my baseball career in college and then if that doesn’t work out somewhere in the medical field like athletic trainer or something like that.”
Jackson Odden:
Having a belief in yourself is a difficult thing to do when your goal is so high as to make it professionally. But it is a requirement in order to have confidence in yourself to accomplish it.
Gavin Satrom: “Well, I would like to say I am pretty good, but, like, you never know what’s going to happen. Its baseball it is up and down a lot of the time. You do good one time, really bad the other.”
Jackson Odden:
Ashton Shares being honest with yourself about your ability can be difficult but necessary in the path of life.
Ashton Loe: ” If I am being honest I don’t really know because a lot of the players around me are really good and watching videos everywhere I see players younger than me that are throwing really hard so I don’t know.”
Jackson Odden:
How does a baseball player maintain their focus amidst adversity, such as when they encounter struggles on the field? Can they find the inner perseverance, despite if they may be struggling in baseball?
Gavin Satrom: ” Well, like honestly you got to leave the last at bat or like batter when pitching behind you. And you just move on next batter, next at bat, all that.”
Jackson Odden:
How can seeking out different environments to practice in help a baseball player regain their focus and improve their performance during tough times?
Ashton Loe: “Whenever I’m struggling on usually I just try and practice that more like go to the Ballyard practice that and get better at it.”
Jackson Odden:
How has the discipline and teamwork learned from playing baseball translated into success? How have skills honed on the field, positively helped you in aspects of your life?
Gavin Satrom: “Baseball’s helped me by like keeping me in like so like for baseball, I have to focus on like on what ever I am doing, and then I can use that like in school too or for like what ever I am doing in my life.”
Jackson Odden:
How does playing giving a person a good mindset in baseball and a peace of mind?
Ashton Loe: ” I like playing baseball because it gives me something to do all the time I am always practicing it.”
Jackson Odden:
In the intricate dance between failure and success on the baseball diamond, how do you navigate the fine line, seeking growth amidst strikeouts and home runs? Can you share the strategies and mindset that help you maintain in your journey as a baseball player?
Gavin Satrom: “Well, Like balance the success is really just how hard I practice and all that, but then with like the failure I can just practice even more and harder to like get that success back.”
Jackson Odden:
Keeping to yourself and working on you can be a great way to challenge yourself.
Ashton Loe: “Well, usually I try to ignore how other people are playing, focus on myself, and make sure I am working hard.”
Jackson Odden:
As the crack of the bat echoes through the air, what specific milestones and improvements do you envision achieving in your upcoming baseball season, both individually and as a team, to make it a truly successful and memorable?
Gavin Satrom: “Well, really, it’s just to win the season and the tournament, so win as much as we can and play as best as we can.”
Jackson Odden:
Self challenges can make you a better leader and player than you think you are.
Ashton Loe: “I want to play really good hit a lot better than last year, and hopeful our team can win the tournament again.”
Jackson Odden:
What aspirations and objectives do you envision for your journey through college and beyond, and how do you plan to achieve them?
Gavin Satrom: ” Well, with college, I hope to still play baseball and keep up good grades, but then after college, I want to play professionally; if it doesn’t work, then something in the accounting business.”
Jackson Odden:
What would you do if everyone didn’t look at you what if baseball doesn’t work out?
Ashton Loe: “For college I want to continue my baseball career hopeful go D1 maybe make it to the majors otherwise probably stay in the medical field like I said before.”
Jackson Odden:
How do you navigate the challenge of resisting comparisons to peers of similar age who might be excelling in various aspects of life?
Gavin Satrom: “When I’m playing the game of baseball, I don’t really look around to see how people are doing; I just care about how I am doing myself and think if I can perform better or, I guess play better.”
Jackson Odden:
Comparing yourself to others can be a tricky thing how do you try to avoid it?
Ashton Loe: “Although I do see a lot of better players I just try and ignore them focus on myself get better get better than them.”
Jackson Odden:
“How do you manage the juggling of your academic studies while also dedicating significant time to practice and play baseball, and what strategies have you found most effective in maintaining a balance between these?”
Gavin Satrom: “Well, I mean If I can focus on the grades, then I can go out and just play baseball.”
Jackson Odden
One of the most beautiful parts of playing sports is you are a student athlete how do you balance being a student and an athlete?
Ashton Loe : “Usually I am pretty good at keeping my grades up keeping eligibility so I just focus on baseballs a ton during school.”
[THEME SONG – ORGAN.]
Abby Smith:
There you have it, with one athlete confident with his rise to the professional level and another riding the wave, who knows what the outcome will be.
This podcast was recorded by Jackson Odden and hosted by Abby Smith and our thanks goes out to Ashton Loe and Gavin Satrom for their time which helped make this podcast possible.
In our next episode of The Home Turf, Reise Berg and Aiden Johnson, take a look at the world of professional basketball.
The Mustang Post 