#FAMILY DAY PRESENTERS
Thomas Smalley
MS, CSCS
Strength & Conditioning Coach
Struggle into Strength Performance, LLC
Dr. Ishani Bali
PT, FMS, PRI
Physical Therapist
Springfield College
Cassidy Thompson
Grad Student
Springfield College
#FAMILY DAY SCHEDULE
8:30-8:45 am – CHECK-IN/REGISTRATION
9:05-9:10 am – WELCOME
Overview of Day’s Activities / Presentations from Brenden Ostaszewski
9:00-9:50 am – LECTURE
Championing Mental Wellness: Creating a Supportive Environment for Student Athletes by Thomas Smalley
OVERVIEW:In this presentation, the speaker will share their personal testimony about living with OCD and ADHD as both a student and an athlete. They will discuss how their journey has shaped their perspective and how they now use their experience to raise awareness around mental health. The presentation will explore how coaches can create a holistic, motivating, and accepting environment for student-athletes, emphasizing the importance of recognizing signs of mental health challenges and being mindful of the language used. Finally, the speaker will discuss the benefits of mental skills training, sharing insights on how coaches and athletes can incorporate these strategies to strengthen both mind and performance.
10:00-10:50 am – LECTURE
Injury-Prevention and Rehab Exercises for Athletes by co-presenters Dr. Ishani Bali and Cassidy Thompson
OVERVIEW:
In this session, the concepts of prehabilitation (prehab) and rehabilitation (rehab) will be explored, focusing on their importance in preventing injuries and aiding recovery. The discussion will cover when and how to incorporate these practices into training sessions to enhance performance and longevity in sport.
Prehab exercises are proactive, designed to improve mobility, stability, and strength, reducing the risk of injury before it occurs. Key exercises that target common areas of weakness or vulnerability in athletes will be covered. In contrast, rehab exercises are restorative, used after injury to regain strength, flexibility, and function. The session will go over how to safely integrate these exercises into training sessions to support recovery while minimizing further risk.
Participants will engage in hands-on practice, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to learn and reinforce proper technique for both prehab and rehab exercises. This practical application will not only increase understanding but also provide the tools needed to effectively incorporate these exercises into training regimens, whether the goal is injury prevention or recovery.
11:00-11:30 pm – ROUNDTABLE
11:30-11:45 am – CLOSING REMARKS
Brenden Ostaszewski
Special 'Thank You' to our partners
