How Do Teams and Advisers Help Athletes Avoid Financial Mismanagement?
Paul Chandler, a coordinator of strength and conditioning who works with the University of Florida baseball and football teams, shares this philosophy. He believes a coach or teammate should help an athlete help themselves. “Learning how to overcome (mental obstacles) in a proper way is a huge skill to learn,” said Chandler.
Chandler remembers when he trained football players at the University of West Virginia. He says a number of offensive linemen dealt with serious issues. “Some had a grandparent who got cancer. Helping them deal with that process (involved) just being there, listening to them, and helping them work through that.”
Chandler says large teams can benefit players facing such traumatic events. “On a football team, you’ve got 104 to 105 other guys. Someone’s got to have gone through the same thing. That’s really comforting.”
Provo says when professionals are necessary when an athlete’s circumstances are outside the norm. “(Professional athletes) get pitched all the time, for all of these businesses,” she said. “It happened to one player as he was leaving church. He went to a funeral for his grandmother. She was 90 years old. No one really knew her (but so many people showed up). As he was leaving, people were running after him with scripts, business plans.”
Provo says her team of advisers provides athletes with the skills to deal with such situations. “We have a director of communications who specifically coaches them (the athletes) on their on-camera presence and their off-camera presence. We have a relationship expert, Skip Lockwood, who is in his 60s. He’s able to introduce a topic (players might be having trouble with), read between the lines, and see what’s going on.”
Provo says her firm provides athletes with help as soon as they become clients. “They travel so much that they don’t have resources (on hand),” said Provo.
Henry says in dire situations, such as if players violate a policy, the league or their team forces them to get help. Typically players are remanded to a professional counselor. “(For example), if they get arrested for DUI, they’ll be evaluated. The evaluator makes a determination. The player may be referred to counseling with a substance abuse expert and undergo periodic testing.”
Henry said players who violate team and league policies can also face suspension, sanctions, or being kicked off the team. Tignor says despite all the difficulties, he finds value in the personal relationships he makes through being part of a team. This belief helps him deal with a constantly changing roster and a new system of playing the game.
“I have a very variable schedule. I am in Orem, Utah right now playing for the short season A-ball team. My family is in Florida. There’s the constant stress of performing well on the field. There’s always a group of new guys coming after you, pushing for your spot and your money,” said Tignor. “The best thing about playing sports is the relationship that you form with the people. There’s something about sacrifice and sweating with the teammates to form lasting bonds.”
