ABSTRACT
Playing sports and engaging in athletics have long been associated with many social and emotional benefits during adolescence and young adulthood for various types of students. This chapter presents a brief overview of various personal-social issues that student athletes can encounter during their K-12 years. Thus, when working with student athletes who face issues related to matters of mental health and well-being, conflict, substance use/abuse, body image, and sexual risk taking, counseling professionals are significant links to resources and support networks. One of the more explicit models found to address issues of substance abuse by student athletes at the college level is the Athletic Prevention Programming and Leadership Education (APPLE) model. Although coaches and athletic staff are usually well-connected with student athletes in terms of schedules and practices, they are not always aware of the emotional and personal facets behind some of the behaviors their players exhibit.
