Sam Benzing is the Assistant Nordic Coach for men’s and women’s nordic skiing at Montana State University. Originally from Boise, ID, Sam graduated with a B.S. in Exercise Physiology from The College of St. Scholastica and a M.A. in Clinical Counseling from The University of Minnesota Duluth. She also holds her CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist) from the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Sam is passionate about working at the intersection of high performance sport and mental health, and aims to help athletes learn valuable life lessons through sport and chasing their high performance goals.

Coaches get a front row seat and play a vital role in preventative and acute care of athlete physical and mental health (Bartholomew et al., 2011). While we all want to be prepared, it takes an entire team to make sure an athlete receives the best and most comprehensive care possible. Physical and mental health are deeply intertwined and an interdisciplinary care team involves multiple experts in their fields to help the athlete (and coaches, parents, support people etc.) navigate the injury.

An interdisciplinary care team consists of mental health care providers, physical health care providers, and coaches. This team can help educate athletes and perform preventative care.If an athlete is experiencing a major physical or mental health injury it will be beneficial to create a care team that meets regularly. It is becoming common practice for elite athletes to have these teams built out and is something that can be implemented at all levels of sport. Below are the most critical members of interdisciplinary care teams, their qualifications, and the benefits they can provide.

Benzing Skiing at St. Scholastica (Photo from the College of St. Scholastica)

Potential Members of the Interdisciplinary Care Team

Primary Care Physician

A primary care physician may be an M.D., D.O., P.A., or N.P. All of these credentials will allow this provider to act as a primary care provider. This doctor will be the point person for general physical health. They handle everything from annual visits, sports physicals, blood labs, etc.

Mental Health Care Provider

When looking for a mental health care provider it is important that you find someone who is a licensed mental health clinician. They may have received training at the doctorate level (PhD or PsyD) or at the masters level (commonly LPC or LPCC, but the terminology varies by state). These credentials show that the person has undergone extensive training to be a mental health care provider. This is different from someone who only holds the title of Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC). A CMPC specializes in the mental performance aspects of sport, but is not a mental health care provider. It is possible for a mental health care provider (PhD, PsyD, LPC, LPCC etc.) to also be a CMPC, which is something many teams look for when searching for a mental health care provider.

Benzing after coaching and teching MSU Athlete Kate Oldham to a SuperTour Win

Registered Dietician

A registered dietician (RD) works with individuals and groups to provide nutritional counseling and provide medical nutritional therapy (Washington State University). An RD can have additional certifications such as Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian Specialist (CEDRD). RDs earn their bachelor’s and master's degrees and then are credentialed by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics The difference between an RD and a nutritionist is that nutritionists only need to complete a bachelor's degree followed by a certification. RDs are able to bill insurance which is also a big win to keep the cost of care down!

Physical Therapist

A physical therapist (DPT) helps treat both acute and chronic injuries. They also can help with preventative treatment and movement screenings.

*As of 2020 all physical therapists must now pursue their Doctor of Physical Therapy but you may see a therapist with only the credentials of PT who completed schooling before this rule was put into effect (Mathur, 2011).

Sam Benzing on course (photo: Cece Boyle Photography)

Athletic Trainer

High schools and colleges will have a team of athletic trainers (ATC) on hand and they are normally the first line of defense against injury. These providers have received their bachelor and master’s degrees in athletic training. They perform first aid, taping, rehabilitation, and other forms of injury prevention and treatment. They are normally housed within the high school and college which makes them a great resource as they are able to see the athletes often.

*As of 2015 all ATCs must hold a masters degree. ATCs who were enrolled in bachelor programs before 2015 do not need to obtain a masters degree (National Athletic Trainers Association).

Parent and Other General Support Person(s)

If the athlete is a minor a parent or guardian will need to be part of all conversations. In cases where the coach is concerned that the parent or guardian is jeopardizing the health and safety of the athlete the coach should reach out to other resources. If it is an emergency the coach should contact the local police and emergency services. If it does not require immediate attention the coach can speak to the mental health professional to determine how best to proceed.

Coach

It may seem obvious that the coach is involved “by coaching”, but the true answer is “it depends”. If an athlete is experiencing an acute injury or struggling with their mental health they decide which coaches get to know details and what details those selected coaches get to know. If you are coaching a minor athlete the parents are always part of this decision making process. As a coach it is always important to remember the power dynamic of any coach-athlete relationship and that coaches have a direct impact on athlete mental health. An athlete and their parents may choose to have the coach placed directly on the care team or they may choose to have one of the providers communicate select details to the coach. Most importantly, the coach acts as a support person and can help bring resources to the athletes.

Sam Benzing (left) in a NENSA Forum with Bryan Fish (US Ski Team), Drew Gelinas (Director of Sports at Trapp Family Lodge and former Nordic Product Manager of SwixSport North America), Zach Caldwell of Caldwell Sport, and Kathy Maddock (Dublin XC Coach)

When do I use the interdisciplinary team?

Interdisciplinary teams can offer preventative care in the form of presentations, initial consults, and team meetings. For example, a primary care physician, mental health care provider, and registered dietician can work together on a presentation about REDs (relative energy deficiency in sport), the warning signs of REDs, and the importance of taking care of your physical and mental health. A registered dietician can do a presentation about macronutrients, the food groups, and help the athletes make a cook book full of recipes to eat before and after training. A physical therapist can do preventative screenings and many physical therapists hold their CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist) so they can assist with writing strength plans for the team. Needless to say, the first step of the interdisciplinary team is preventative care and sharing resources.

After the care team is established they can act as a first line of defense for physical and mental health injuries. They can take stress off of the coaching staff by being the people that you refer the athletes to for care. One way this can easily be done is by creating an informational pamphlet for athletes and parents. This resource guide can be distributed at the beginning of each season and is a reference for athletes to refer to when they need extra support.

Incorporating the Care Team

The benefit of an interdisciplinary care team is that there are multiple experts in their field prioritizing athlete safety, well-being, and performance. In order for the interdisciplinary care team to meet together the proper informed consent will need to be signed by the athlete and their parents if they are a minor. This process will most likely be done by each provider based on the local and state laws. In select cases, such as at some NCAA schools and national governing bodies, there is a single informed consent that the athlete can sign. During this process the athlete and providers work together to finalize who should be on the care team and what role the coach will play.

At this point you may be reading this and thinking “Okay Sam, this all sounds great but I have no budget or time for this!”

In relation to budget, many of these providers will do pro bono work in their area of specialty or will trade presentations for a team sponsorship title.

Another option is to find a donor that will sponsor an athlete well-being program. For example, some teams have a donor that writes a check to have providers come in and do presentations for athletes (and parents of minor athletes), as well as for all athletes to get annual bloodwork. For athlete safety, the donor does not choose the providers or mandate certain topics for presentations. They are however able to make an extremely positive impact on the lives of the athletes with a no-strings attached approach. Obviously that is a dream scenario, but one that is worth searching for!

In relation to time constraints, athletes' safety, health, and well-being are our top priority as coaches. Happy and healthy athletes make the fastest athletes. Additionally, coaches model behaviors and athletes are constantly observing and reenacting these behaviors. When we make health and well-being a priority, the athletes will too.

Action Items to Get Started

Meet with your coaching staff and other key plays in your organization (board members, athletic directors, sport supervisors etc.) and set a goal of forming an interdisciplinary care team.
Create a list of potential providers that may be a good fit.
Contact these providers and determine 1-3 per area of expertise that will be a good fit for your team.
Create a resource document with these providers, how to contact them, and the insurance that they take.
Schedule a presentation series for the athletes to attend.
Check in with athletes regularly, and when a situation comes up that is out of your realm as a coach encourage the athlete to contact the care team resources.

If you are still concerned and your organization allows, contact members of the care team to schedule an initial consultation.

Create a meeting schedule for the care team and work with the athlete to establish a treatment plan.

*continually work with the providers to make sure that the work they are doing is following all local and state laws

Sam Benzing and US Ski Team Coach Kristen Bourne at the 2023 Women’s Coaches Summit

Resources to Get Started

You can begin the search for a mental health professional by using the “find a provider” function on Psychology Today.
You can begin the search for a registered dietician by using “find a nutrition expert” on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Website.
When looking for primary care physicians and physical therapists a google search is generally the best place to start.
To learn more about REDs you can read the most recent IOC Consensus Statement
WithAll’s What to Say Campaign is a great place to learn more about discussing eating disorders with individuals.
If you or someone you know needs immediate emotional support or is in a mental health crisis you can call 988 from anywhere in the United States.

References

Bartholomew, K., Ntoumanis, N., Ryan, R., & Thøgersen-Ntoumani, C. (2011). Psychological need thwarting in the sport context: Assessing the darker side of athletic experience.Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 33(1), 75-102.

Washington State University. (n.d.). Dietitian Is Different from a Nutritionist. College of Medicine, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. Retrieved August 5, 2025, https://medicine.wsu.edu/nutrition‑exercise‑physiology/dietitian‑vs‑nutritionist/

Mathur, S. (2011). Doctorate in Physical Therapy: Is it time for a conversation? Physiotherapy Canada, 63(2), 140–142. https://doi.org/10.3138/physio.63.2.140

National Athletic Trainers’ Association. (n.d.). Degree change frequently asked questions. Retrieved August 5, 2025, https://www.nata.org/career-education/education/resources-tools/degree-change-faqs

Creating an Interdisciplinary Care Team by Sam Benzing