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2016-17
BASKETBALL
14
THE UNIVERSITY
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STUDENT-ATHLETE SUPPORT
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PLAYERS & STAFF
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HISTORY & RECORDS
SPORT PSYCHOLOGY
The Virginia Tech Athletics Department contracts with the Thomas
E. Cook Counseling Center to provide psychological services for its
student-athletes through the Sport Psychology Office. Dr. Gary Bennett
coordinates the sport psychology department, which offers psychological
and performance enhancement services for student-athletes. The mission
of the sport psychology office is to promote student-athlete learning and
development. Consistent with the university’s mission to “educate the
whole person,” the Sport Psychology Program promotes the academic,
intellectual, social, emotional, athletic, and personal development of
student-athletes.
On average, Bennett conducts over 50
individual sessions per week
and meets weekly with teams as the need arises.
The response to the sport psychology program has been positive.
The student-athletes are very receptive to the services offered by the
doctors. The sport psychology office reaches out to student-athletes
who may not have considered going to the counseling service that is
offered to all students at Virginia Tech.
SPORTS NUTRITION
Eating healthy and making food functional for athletic performance are
important aspects of a Virginia Tech student-athlete’s life, and that’s why
the athletics department implemented the sports nutrition program in July
of 2002. Jennie Zabinsky is the department’s director of sports nutrition.
The sports nutrition program offers a wide variety of services that aim
to enhance the performance of each student-athlete. Services include
individual assessments, team talks, body composition analysis using the
Bod Pod, grocery store tours, supplement management and education,
disordered eating counseling, travel meal arrangements, and basketball
training table menu planning and management. Zabinsky works closely
with coaches, team physicians, athletic trainers, strength coaches and
the sport psychologist to address any performance concerns. She directs
the nutrition and performance committee that meets monthly to discuss
student-athletes of concern.
The sports nutrition staff manages two facilities, the Nutrition Oasis
and Fueling Station, that provide athletes fuel in between workouts,
classes and meals. Each facility provides recovery beverages, Gatorade
products, smoothies, and a variety of high performance snack options as
well as nutrition education resources. In addition, Virginia Tech has started
providing a training table to help promote hydration, muscle recovery,
glycogen, synthesis, providing options to meet a variety of energy needs
while increasing antioxidant and fiber intake.
DR. GARY
BENNETT
SPORT
PSYCHOLOGIST
Responsibilities:
Bennett meets with student-athletes on
an individual basis for personal counseling and to discuss the
mental aspects of the game. He also works on team building,
communication and performance enhancement. Bennett has
taught and supervised pre-doctoral level interns.
Joined VT Athletics Staff:
2000 (full time since 2007);
16th year.
Record at Virginia Tech:
Bennett began working at
Virginia Tech in 1995 at the Cook Counseling Center. Now, as
the sport psychologist, he also serves on the committees for
nutrition, performance and substance abuse; and the planning
committee for the “Summit for Student-Athlete Success” events.
He also works with various teams in the area of performance
enhancement.
Education:
Centre (Ky.) College, 1981, B.A. English, where
he played baseball; University of Kentucky, 1988, master’s
in rehabilitation counseling; UK, 1995, Ph.D. in counseling
psychology.
Of Note:
Bennett is licensed as a clinical psychologist and
has additional training in sport psychology. He is certified as a
sport psychology consultant by the Association of Applied Sport
Psychology and is a member of Division 47 (exercise and sport
psychology) of the American Psychology Association.
Personal:
Bennett lives in Blacksburg and enjoys playing golf
and basketball, as well as hiking and skiing, in his spare time.
JENNIE
ZABINSKY,
MAED, RD
SPORTS
NUTRITIONIST
Responsibilities:
Zabinsky is responsible for all nutrition
and performance related concerns for varsity student-
athletes including individual counseling, team talks, body
composition analysis using the Bod Pod, recovery nutrition
plans, grocery store tours, training table menu planning, travel
meal arrangements, managing the Nutrition Oasis and Fueling
Stations, and supplement education.
Joined VT Staff:
2011; fourth year.
At Virginia Tech: Zabinsky worked as the sports nutrition
graduate assistant under former director Amy Freel, before being
hired as director. She directs the nutrition and performance
committee.
Education:
Roanoke College, 2005 (B.A., in sociology) while
competing in basketball for four years; Virginia Tech, 2009 (B.S.,
in human nutrition, foods and exercise: dietetics option); Virginia
Tech, 2010 (dietetic internship); Virginia Tech, 2013 (master of
arts in education).
Of Note:
Zabinsky is in her fourth year as director. She is
a member of the Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitians
Association (CPSDA) and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Family:
A native of Centreville, Va., Zabinsky and her
husband Sam live in Christiansburg with their twin sons.
ATHLETIC
PERFORMANCE