This piece was originally published on The Positive Coaching Alliance blog on February 11, 2021. My athletic career was a roller coaster ride. Full of ups and downs it was one that I sometimes questioned if I was enjoying… until I stepped off and wanted nothing more than to get back on again. I look…
Kaylen Buschhorn: A Break Up Letter to MyFitnessPal
MyFitnessPal is that toxic ex you keep crawling back to…. Not because it gives you that false sense of security, but because you feel as though you have no other viable option. It’s the on again, off again relationship that traps you, grabs you, positively incentivizes you, all while still judging you every minute of…
Chloe Dewhurst: It’s Not About Perfect
If you were to scroll through my Facebook timeline, Instagram feed, or online performance list from the year 2019, you would probably come to the conclusion that I had a pretty perfect freshman year of college. In my first collegiate track season, I was able to break a 35 year old school record, win a…
Alex Evans: The Weight of Silence
If you know me, you know that my idea of “fun” usually involves running, and you might know that I haven’t been doing very much of that this past year. However, not many people know why. Last December, I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with something I’d already known I had for years:…
Mo Merritt: On Identity in Sport
Mo Merritt is a former collegiate basketball player, turned Team USA Handball player. She recently began the blog “my clarity project” –a place for perspective, an open forum dedicated to happiness and progress. When you introduce yourself to someone, what things come up first? For most of us, the conversation quickly leads to our sport….
Katina Cokinos: An Open Letter to Anyone Who is Struggling
An open letter to anyone who is struggling: My name is Katina Cokinos and I am a 2020 college graduate. I played D1 soccer at Manhattan College for three years and struggle with anxiety, depression, and auto-immune disorders. Like many other college graduates out there, I found myself searching for answers during these tumultuous times….
The History of National Girls and Women in Sports Day
By Kaylen Buschhorn National Girls and Women in Sports Day started in 1987 as a way to remember Olympic volleyball player, Flo Hyman, for her athletic achievements and dedication to supporting and promoting equality for women sports. Hyman sadly passed away the year prior in 1986 from Marfan’s Syndrome. This day of celebration has continued…
Black History Month: Our Statement
We at The Hidden Opponent acknowledge the presence of great racial inequality in our country. As an organization, we commit ourselves to actively practicing allyship and promoting diversity in the athletic and mental health communities. With Black History Month, we hope to further educate ourselves, amplify marginalized voices, and be active, impactful allies. However, this…
The Grassroot Project: Over 1,000 NCAA Athletes Creating Mental Health Education
Our Editor in Chief, Leeann Passaro, sat down with Dylan Wolfe, former collegiate athlete and Digital Communications Manager at The Grassroot Project based in Washington, DC. The Grassroot Project (TGP) is a team of more than 1,000 NCAA varsity athletes and 5,000 DC teens who are committed to making our nation’s cities healthier physically and…
Maggie Werba: When Perfectionism Becomes Dangerous
In America, if you strive for perfection, you are seen as driven. As athletes, if you strive for perfection, you are seen as dedicated to your sport. As students, if you strive for perfection, you are seen as an intelligent, committed student. But when does perfectionism become dangerous? My whole life, I have been a…