LEXINGTON, Ky. – Sara Corman, a master’s student at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW), is exploring a unique component of social work through her practicum this fall. Corman is currently working as a Sport Social Worker with the University of Kentucky men’s soccer team, helping student-athletes with life skill development.
Sport Social Work, a relatively new field, focuses on the athlete as a whole person and not just their performance on the field. Social work offers a unique perspective in the athletic space, emphasizing mental and behavioral health. Social workers can help get to the root of the presenting problem and address it, which may lead to improved performance. The CoSW is also home to the Sport Social Work Collaborative, a partnership dedicated to leading research, teaching, and outreach efforts that seek to promote the healthy development of athletes, coaches, and communities.
“The areas I’m focusing on with the team are life skill development and overall wellness promotion,” Corman said. “I go to all the trainings and games, as well as conduct one-on-one meetings and group meetings to talk about things that your everyday college student is going to deal with like time management, communication, among others.”
Corman started with the team in August, working with the team through training camp and the first three weeks of preseason, arguably the most important time for student-athletes as they get adjusted to their new training and class schedule.
Men’s Soccer head coach, Johan Cedergren, emphasizes the need to have a member of the support staff who the student-athletes can approach to talk about how things are going on the field, but also what could be going on off the field.
“As a coach, you’re always looking for new ways to improve and do things better to find new ways to connect with your athletes,” Cedergren said. “My thinking was, to add Sara to the staff having the formal social work training and experience that she has, it adds another way to connect with the guys and figure out where we are individually and also as a group.”
One of the most important areas for Corman with the men’s soccer student-athletes is relationship building. Helping the student-athletes know that she is an advocate for them on and off the field.
“My focus is on the student-athlete as a person and their overall wellness. I work with the team a lot on their communication with each other, leadership and staying organized. Many things that any person could benefit with a little guidance on, but hopefully, it also benefits them on the soccer field,” Corman said.
Corman and Cedergren meet on a regular basis to discuss different things observed at practice or games, as Corman can view the athletes on more of a personal level, observing body language and behavior when things are going well, or not going well.
Adding Corman to the staff has added a different perspective to the men’s soccer support staff, giving a more complete picture of the individual student-athlete to help with their overall success.
“The student-athletes are here because of their skills in the game of soccer, but they’re also here to grow as young men. I’ve been a head coach for 13 years and one of the main reasons I do this for a living is that I love to work with and develop these guys over four or five years,” Cedergren said. “What I want them to take away from this first fall working with a sport social worker is that it’s another level of what Kentucky men’s soccer is willing to do to make sure that we can help these student-athletes develop in all aspects of life.”
For Corman, the little moments she shares with the team have been one of the most rewarding parts of her time with men’s soccer. Getting to know them as athletes, but also the person they are off the field.
“I always like to remind them that you are an athlete on the field, but you are also a person off the field,” Corman said. “I want them to know that they will always have someone in their corner.”
