Dear Bill,
Thanks for your note. I think you're absolutely right regarding
problems she may be having in her personal life (or possibly
even with you or other team members.) I would encourage you to
meet with her one-on-one, letting her know that anything she
says will be kept in complete confidence just between the two
of you, and provide her with an opportunity to "unload"
(that is, talk about issues she may be having in her personal
life) without fearing anyone being judgmental. If she's having
a problem with someone and prefers not to confront him/her, you
can also encourage her to write that person a nice long letter
(even 12 pages long) telling him/her how she feels, then, putting
the letter away in her dresser drawer at her dorm or home.
Another suggestion might be to introduce her to meditation, where
she creates a mantra for herself and after hours of practicing,
will be able to focus on and visualize her mantra, blocking out
everything else around her. In this way, she can calm herself
just prior to competing. If you'd like more information on this,
I can fax something to you since it's not available in e-mail
form. Just let me know your fax number.
Bill, I've worked with college level girls' volleyball and softball
teams and have some insight into what you're experiencing. Many
of the girls were highly emotional, but they also responded to
the type of program I'm recommending. If you'd like to discuss
this with me further, please feel free to call me.
Best regards,
Marv Fremerman