15/03/2024
Check out the full article on our site here: https://thewarmup.beehiiv.com/p/john-armistead-interview
But enjoy the free article here for now!
Athletes and Sports Enthusiasts,
Before we get started we want to take a second to promote a cause that is very close to our and John Armistead’s heart. AthletesTogether is a platform John is building to support student-athletes’ mental health. This is what John had to say about this mission and platform:
“During my time as a two sport division 1 athlete, I noticed the severe lack of adequate mental health resources for student-athletes. I wanted to use my experiences and knowledge in the field to create something that can help thousands of athletes on a daily basis, so we created AthletesTogether - a mobile app to promote mental wellness in athletes. AthletesTogether is set to launch in fall 2024.”
Check it out here:
AthletesTogether || The Athlete Mental Health App
AthletesTogether is an athlete mental health app that aims to address the needs of athletes at all levels. Through resources and various other features, our mobile app...
www.athletestogether.com
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Back to the regularly scheduled program:
For this week’s newsletter, we are bringing you a very special interview with John Armistead. John is a dual sport athlete who played lacrosse at the University of Richmond and football at USC. John was able to give us not only great insight into his love for music, but also the challenges of mental health within college athletes and his mission to support athletes everywhere. John discusses the difficulties of a dual sport athlete and what led him to create AthletesTogether. Check out full detailed interview and his playlist below:
JOHN ARMISTEAD INTERVIEW
TWU: First off as a dual sport athlete do you think that your music taste changes for the different seasons? If yes, what type of music do you listen to for football and then for lacrosse?
Personally I keep a consistent playlist across both sports - I think my approach before games is relatively similar where I want to focus and not get too high or too low on my emotions. I usually listen to rap before games, but sometimes balance it out with R&B or occasionally country.
TWU: How important do you think music is within sports and for athletes?
Incredibly - I think it can do anything from helping you get in the right mindset to bringing a team closer together. I always use music as a way to regulate my emotions before games and practice so I’m entering with a clear mindset and I’m able to focus on playing.
TWU: Can you give our readers insight into AthletesTogether and what has led you to create this wonderful platform for athlete’s mental health?
AthletesTogether is a mental health app for athletes that I’ve been working on for the past 2 years or so. My own experiences, as well as my friends and teammates, led me to want to create a platform that could support athletes and give them the proper guidance to face their mental health battles. The app features a list of expert-built resources, habit building exercises, and real time support - all focused on athlete lifestyle.
The app is currently in the development stages and is set for a Fall 2024 launch. Check out our website for more!
AthletesTogether || The Athlete Mental Health App
AthletesTogether is an athlete mental health app that aims to address the needs of athletes at all levels. Through resources and various other features, our mobile app...
www.athletestogether.com
TWU: What do you think are the positives and challenges of being a dual sport athlete?
Luckily, I was only a dual sport athlete for one season when I went from my senior season at Richmond into my fifth year season at USC. This definitely presented a lot of challenges, but a lot of good also came out of it. For positives, being a dual sport athlete has allowed me to be around and learn from some of the brightest minds in both football and lacrosse. I've been apart of two vastly different cultures, but both successful. I've taken different approaches and learned how to adapt quickly.
There's obviously a ton of challenges that also go with this, both physical and mental. Physical challenges are a little more obvious - being in-season back to back in contact sports is incredibly hard on the body. Prioritizing recovery and general wellness is necessary to be successful. Luckily football and lacrosse have a lot of crossover when it comes to lifting and conditioning programs, but getting skill work in and balancing everything between the two is a time management challenge.
There are also a ton of mental challenges, as well. Having to know two different playbooks and schemes while also being a student was challenging. Also being able to flip the switch between the two sports was difficult at first. Lacrosse is more of a marathon than a sprint (although there are certainly "sprint" moments) while football is a collection of sprints back-to-back. The game itself is different so the mindset changes in small ways between the two.
TWU: What is your favorite song to be played in the stadium during a game?
If it's in the stadium during a game, I like songs that the crowd gets into and creates a fun atmosphere. Lacrosse - I'm so Paid (Akon and Lil Wayne) and Football - All I Do Is Win (DJ Khalid)
Featured Athlete | Men's College Football and Lacrosse
