Eric Martin is a YouTuber and a textbook co-author (more on that to come) – all in less than a year.
Martin, an associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology, co-director of Boise State’s Center for Physical Activity and Sport and certified mental performance consultant, has shared a scholarly video titled “Off the Court Change: How Athlete Platforms Can Ignite Athlete Activism.”
In the video, asked of him by the International Association of Applied Sport Psychology with which he has long been associated, Martin reviews the history of athlete activism and provides suggestions for coaches, parents, peers, teachers and others who would support athletes with that interest.
As Martin points out, there is a long history of athletes as activists. There is an equally long history of pushback, and he hopes the video encourages and guides those who would use their platform to effect change.
“Athletes are seeing themselves as more than just athletes,” he said. “They can make a change when they find their voice, and getting coaches thinking in that positive way, in terms of the platform, finding their voice and their purpose, that can support them and build their confidence.”
“Eric’s work, which is gaining national recognition, is a big deal within the sport psychology discipline,” said Lynda Ransdell, chair of the Department of Kinesiology. “It was a massive undertaking and he did a phenomenal job. His work, which is innovative and inspirational, has opened the doors for helping athletes use their platforms as role models to inspire inclusivity, social change and leadership.”
Authoring textbooks to help students
YouTube is not the only platform where Martin has been published this year. Along with co-author Kelly Rossetto of the Department of Communication, he produced “The Journey into College and Career: Cultivating Resilience Among Challenges.” The two have partnered on multiple projects for the past seven years, as both joined Boise State around the same time.
Designed as a textbook ideally shared with first-year undergraduates over a semester, the writing uses case studies to serve as resources to help students develop coping skills and cultivate support – all in great demand among its intended audience.
“‘How do we help freshmen in this transition and throughout their college career?’” Martin asked. “Kelly and I bring two very different perspectives. We come at it from different angles, which improves the project.”