PSAB NA: Selman looking to tackle the challenges of athlete identity
When the Pro Sport Advisory Board North America gets to work, it won’t just be about ensuring that current athletes are the center of attention – there’s just as much work to be done supporting those in a position of vulnerability as they transition away from athletic life.
The challenges surrounding athlete identity – or a new life where being an athlete is no longer your identity – is something that Brian Selman wants to address as he steps into a role with the newly-formed collective that will be looking to mitigate against gambling-related harm’s risk to sports.
The skillset he brings to the PSAB NA is that of a leadership and learning development expert with 14 years of applied experience with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and private consulting.
Brian’s career oversaw the career journeys for thousands of minor league players and staff with the Pirates for over a decade. He has helped lead all talent management strategies including coach pedagogy, rookie onboarding, leadership development, culture growth, roster management, and individualized development plans.
Selman holds a Doctorate of Education in Leadership and Learning in Organizations from Vanderbilt University, a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Florida, as well as a Masters in Sport Management and Bachelors in Business Management from the University of Alabama.
During his time at the University of Alabama, Brian was a walk-on long snapper and three-year starter for the Crimson Tide including the 2009 SEC and National Championship team.
In addition to Brian’s academic pedigree and applied personal experience, Brian’s ability to build meaningful, authentic relationships quickly allows his entrepreneurial spirit and expertise to add immediate value to others. Brian resides in Indianapolis, IN with his wife and two children.
Bringing such a wealth of experience to the board, he takes us through the reasoning behind his decision to get involved…
What made you want to join the Pro Sport Advisory Board North America?
“If given the choice, I would make serving athlete identity awareness my life’s work. Athlete identity is complex, nuanced, and pernicious if not understood and thoughtfully approached.
“Unfortunately, most institutions and professional sports organizations fail to understand the harsh realities of athlete identity, leaving our athletes exposed to the hangover of what becomes a highly transactional experience. As athletes grieve in their transition from athletics, research clearly demonstrates a heightened vulnerability to risky behavior including problematic gambling.
“Joining the PSAB NA allows me an opportunity to support greater awareness of challenges associated with athlete identity while building relationships to help better develop both wisdom and applied systems to proactively serve our athletes.”
What are you hoping to bring to (or take from) membership of the board?
“I’m hoping to be able to speak my expertise of athlete identity into the experiences of other group members and associated organizations to help design and install relevant systems and frameworks to better serve athletes proactively.”
Why is it important that a specific North American board is being created to specifically focus on the niche wagering issues that affect this part of the world?
“Risky behavior in athlete populations, such as gambling, alcohol, abuse, etc, are uniquely understood and experienced by individuals first. As individuals experience these challenges, they fit in a context of local communities and expanding from there.
“For EPIC to best serve the challenges in our global community, solutions and thoughtfulness must be applied in the most narrow sense and local levels first to help create individual awareness, transformational learning, and relevant systems for the end-user.
“To design solutions and awareness at scale, may feel efficient or most effective, but likely fall short of long-term impact and individual behavior change.”
