By R.V. Baugus

These days we need mental strategies to merely cope with life as much as we need any other resource to call on. Times are stressful, uncertainty about the future continues to abound, and yet we are still asked to perform, to get results, to meet expectations, and to otherwise continue going down the road of life.

It isn’t easy, but Justin Anderson, Psy.d., LP., CMPC, Sport and Performance Psychologist, Founder & CEO of Premier Sport Psychology in Edina, MN, has some valuable insights to share on February 10 during his presentation at GuestX on Building a Resilient Mind: Applying Mental Strategies That Elite Performers Utilize to Manage Highly Adverse Situations.

Dr. Anderson is acknowledged for his work for teams in the NFL NBA, and MLB, and will discuss several strategies that can optimize our mindsets to improve our mental-toughness and well-being – even when we are fatigued, over-stressed and under pressure. Oh, and you don’t have to be a performer in the major sports leagues to reap the benefits of Dr. Anderson’s expertise.

He spent a few minutes visiting with us about his background, about his upcoming presentation, and about how every attendee will benefit from participating.

If you will, share a little about your background and how you came to start and lead Premier Sport Psychology.

I got into sport psychology because I was fascinated with the question of why some athletes could perform well in the clutch and others (who were more talented) didn’t play to their potential. I believed it had to do with the mental aspect of the game because of some of my experiences in playing baseball and football. I started Premier Sport Psychology because there weren’t a lot of resources available for people and athletes who wanted to optimize how they thought and performed. There were a lot of clinics to help people who were struggling with mental health, but no one working on the positive psychology front. Plus, there weren’t many jobs available for young sport and performance psychologists, so I decided to carve out my own path. Today, we are grateful for our success and for all the lives we’ve been able to impact. It truly has been a rewarding ride.

What does “training our minds” mean?

We found that the mind fires very much like a muscle group in our bodies. We know now that when we think certain ways and get repetition in that thinking, we can actually strengthen our neural pathways. Our minds have a natural reaction to certain stimuli in our environment. Sometimes this natural course isn’t ideal for the result we seek, so we have to retrain the mind to hold its attention to variables that lead us to accomplish the goals we hope to obtain versus just leaving it to chance. Basically, we can train our minds to be prepared for certain sensations (anxiety) or distractions (crowd noises/babies crying, etc.) and still hold our attention/focus on the task we desire to complete. Without the training, we are leaving our minds to operate from its natural state, which may not be optimally effective for the situations we wish to navigate.

It goes without saying that today we are facing more adverse situations than most of us ever have in our lifetimes. Do these experiences change the way you do your training in the people you work with and how?

We are doing most of our work virtually today. In the past, we preferred to meet in person, but with technology advancing, we’ve actually found that we can do work all over the country. And, because so many people are needing help and want to find new ways to grow and navigate these incredibly adverse times, we’ve been very busy working with individuals and organizations (not just in the sport industry) from all over the country. We have seen a very large increase in leaders seeking cognitive training to help them navigate the many issues that 2020/2021 has created.

Athletes have to be at their optimum in all facets to perform at the high levels in which they compete. What are some strategies you use in working with them that can translate to the rest of us?

One skill we start with that can be effective for anyone is to practice simple mindfulness exercises. Mindfulness is just the act of gaining more awareness of where our attention gravitates towards. Those that have more awareness of their thinking can then begin to assess if their minds are working for them or against them in certain situations. For example, if you find that your mind tends to drift/gravitate to the future more often than the present or past, there is a good chance you will experience more anxiety. If your mind gets stuck in the past (i.e., perhaps focusing on a regretful interaction), people tend to feel more depressed. We find that the present moment thinking is where we feel most settled, we also perform the best – so there is a tremendous benefit to being present. For example, fully paying attention to what we are eating or what we are doing can significantly enhance the experience. We once took an NHL team through an exercise of mindfully eating a Starburst. We placed one piece of the square candy in front of them, we then asked them to pick it up and notice the texture of the wrapper and describe what they noticed (color, smoothness of the wrapper, size, weight, smell, etc.). We then asked them to unwrap the piece of candy and again just observe what they noticed. At this point, many described how much their mouths were watering, how good the candy smelled, and how eager they were to eat it. Finally, we asked them to place the candy in their mouth and again mindfully pay attention to their senses. They were blown away at how great that small piece of candy tasted. This small exercise can create some simple joyful moments within the mundane and redundant days we face during this pandemic.

Venue managers have stressful jobs juggling many balls at the same time and working unusual hours. How will you communicate in your session what these individuals need to know with regard to the subject matter you are presenting?

With any group that we work with, we always want to make our tools as applicable to their situation as possible. The exciting thing that most of our clients find, is that we are having to “perform” every day. The long hours, managing stressful situations, managing teammates, attempting to stay motivated, dealing with less than ideal circumstances have ties to any occupation – sport just showcases it. We get to see athletes and performers deal with these types of circumstances in real-time, but the concepts we train are fundamental to anyone wanting to become healthier (mentally), happier, and more successful in any occupation.

Stress gets tossed about these days almost as a cliche. We all know it is real. How would you give your personal working definition of stress?

Stress is our perception of our abilities to manage the tasks and environment we find ourselves within. If we feel we can confidently manage it, we feel less stress but, after a certain amount of time, we may feel boredom. So, some stress is good for us. It keeps us sharp. How we perceive stress (i.e., see it as a challenge/good thing or see it as a horrible thing) can impact our health significantly. Therefore, coming back to using mindfulness to assess our perception of stress can be a good first step.

What would be a main takeaway or two you would like to leave attendees with to take back to the job and personal life?

Your mind ultimately will impact your overall wellness, happiness, and success. Many people have endured very difficult times and come out stronger from them. My hope is that by attending our session, people within the IAVM will take away a few tools to help them navigate any situation they currently find themselves within.

By R.V. Baugus

The Arizona Coyotes became the first National Hockey League team to welcome fans back when 2,274 attended the January 14 game against the San Jose Sharks. The number fell below the maximum of 3,450 allowed, or 25 percent capacity at Gila River Arena. The team played more home games in January for fans to attend.

“Our arena capacity is 17,125 but the City of Glendale approved 25% capacity (3,450) for our home games at Gila River Arena in January. We have reduced that capacity to 2,600 to increase safety and social distancing,” Rich Nairn, Executive Vice President, Communications & Broadcasting, explained to IAVM.

Most any team will admit that hearing at least some home fans encouraging the team is better than the piped in noise that many venues must do to simulate crowds while still waiting for clearance to bring guests into venues.

“The fan response has been incredibly positive,” Nairn said. “They have been impressed with all the safety measures we have put in place.”

Nairn added that some staff has been hired back to accommodate a bigger workload with fans in attendance, but that the actual number is confidential.

As for his own experience at the arena, Nairn said, “The experience has been good. We feel very safe and we all undergo daily testing.”

The National Football League announced that it is planning for 22,000 fans to be in attendance at Super Bowl LV, including around 7,500 vaccinated health care workers. The big game takes place on February 7 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, home to the participating Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who will battle the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs.

The NFL plans to honor health care workers for their service during COVID-19, with 14,500 additional fans to be in attendance at the game. The majority of these health care workers – all of whom will have received both doses of the vaccine – will come from hospitals and health care systems in the Tampa and central Florida area. They will receive free Super Bowl tickets and gameday experiences directly from the NFL. All 32 NFL clubs will select vaccinated health care workers from their communities to attend the Super Bowl.

“These dedicated health care workers continue to put their own lives at risk to serve others, and we owe them our ongoing gratitude,” said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. “We hope in a small way that this initiative will inspire our country and recognize these true American heroes. This is also an opportunity to promote the importance of vaccination and appropriate health practices, including wearing masks in public settings.”

The announcement followed discussions with public health officials, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Florida Department of Health, and area hospitals and health care systems. The League said these officials reviewed and provided feedback on the NFL’s comprehensive plans for safe fan attendance at a stadium that hosted Buccaneers fans during the regular season.

The League said Super Bowl plans enhance the already rigorous COVID-19 protocols implemented by NFL clubs that hosted more than 1.2 million fans at 116 games throughout the regular season and playoffs.

These protocols include mandatory mask-wearing, social-distancing, and other measures to prevent the spread of the virus. This includes podded seating, touchless in-stadium experiences at concessions, restrooms, and security checkpoints, as well as controlled entry and egress. In November, the NFL and payment services brand Visa detailed plans to make the Super Bowl game a cash-free event from this season.

Derrick Brooks and Will Weatherford, co-chairs of the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee, said: “While this was already shaping up to be the most meaningful Super Bowl in our hometown’s history, the NFL deciding to welcome and honor our local vaccinated healthcare workers to Super Bowl LV takes the importance of the event to an all new level.

“The unsolicited outpouring of appreciation that we’ve received in support of this initiative from our local healthcare workers across the community has been truly amazing. These heroes inspire us every day, so we couldn’t be more thankful to the NFL for working to safely create this monumental effort to celebrate them.”

By Samantha Marker

In 2020, three AEG employees graduated from the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School Fully Employed Master of Business Administration (FEMBA) program as a result of the unique partnership formed between AEG and Pepperdine University (Pepperdine) in 2016. As part of the partnership, brokered by AEG Global Partnerships, a number of AEG’s staff were afforded the chance to participate in the University’s prestigious MBA program, helping make this momentous achievement possible four years later.

Congratulations to STAPLES Center, Microsoft Theater, and L.A. LIVE employees Brittney Garza, security operations manager; Austin Caldwell, director premium business intelligence; and Kayla Kilpatrick, event sales manager, for earning their MBA degrees. Garza received hers in August 2020 while Caldwell and Kilpatrick graduated most recently in December 2020. Both Caldwell and Garza earned their degrees with a concentration in global business, and Kilpatrick graduated with a concentration in leadership and managing organizational change. Caldwell and Kilpatrick both graduated with honors as a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the international business honor society for AACSB-accredited schools.

Pepperdine and AEG formed an innovative partnership, which began in the fall of 2016 with one goal in mind: to work together to create world-class educational programs in sports and entertainment management. Since that time, Pepperdine has been named the exclusive Education Partner of STAPLES Center, L.A. LIVE, and the LA Kings, and the two organizations have engaged in an unprecedented collaboration, advancing the University’s goal to position itself as a highly visible and active participant in the vibrant Los Angeles community.

“We are incredibly proud of our partnership with Pepperdine, which has allowed us to work in support of education as well as the next generation of leaders in the sports and entertainment industry,” said Nick Baker, chief operating officer, AEG Global Partnerships. “These most recent graduates are a testament to this great relationship and we look forward to seeing their careers and achievements grow both at AEG and across the industry at large.”

“I am extremely proud that, through Pepperdine’s partnership with AEG, we at Graziadio have had the opportunity to form and support tomorrow’s sports and entertainment leaders with a premiere business education,” said Deryck J. van Rensburg, dean of the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School. “I have no doubt the exceptional students from AEG will become Best for the World Leaders. We at Graziadio look forward to innovating and expanding upon the AEG partnership.”

Through its relationship with AEG, Pepperdine remains steadfast in its commitment to leadership in entertainment, media, and sports as the University’s portfolio of innovative academic programs continues to grow. AEG and Pepperdine also partnered in the launch of a new internship program, which has offered more than 30 Pepperdine graduate and undergraduate students the opportunity to work directly with AEG and STAPLES Center professionals in a major sports venue.

Samantha Marker is Manager, Communications & Social Media for STAPLES Center/Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California.

The Events Industry Council (EIC) released the latest deliverable from the APEX COVID-19 Business Recovery Task Force: the Resources for Business Continuity Accepted Practices Guide.

The new guide focuses on:

How organizations prepare for future crises or disruptions, such as the current global pandemic
How businesses reliant on in-person events navigate through a crisis when such traditional in-person event models are not possible
Curating business continuity resources for event professionals
Understanding and implementing value-based adaptions and innovations

To access the resource, click here.