Coaches play a crucial role in the holistic development of athletes, impacting their personal and professional growth in significant ways. By focusing on building positive relationships, fostering a healthy team environment, balancing athletic and personal development, and recognizing the individual needs of athletes, coaches can nurture and positively influence their athletes' identities.
Sport knowledge refers to the comprehensive understanding of the sport, it goes beyond knowing its rules, techniques, strategies, and includes historical context, social influences, and the science infused within it. When coaches possess in-depth knowledge of their sport, they become trusted sources of information and guidance for their athletes. This expertise helps shape the athlete's identity, as they look up to their coach as a role model and mentor.
As coaches and sports leaders, the holistic development of our athletes is our primary concern. Mental health plays a crucial role in their overall well-being. This piece aims to shed light on prevalent mental health issues among athletes, emphasizing the unique stressors they encounter.
As experienced sport coaches invested in our player’s athletic and personal development, it's crucial for us to recognize the significance of athlete mental health. We train our athletes physically to excel, but what about mentally and emotionally? How can our athletes reach their FULL potential without these being in optimal condition? High-profile athletes have recently brought this issue to the forefront and now it is time to take action.
Volt Athletics' CEO Dan Giuliani talks about the importance of mental health in his own life personally and professionally. Giuliani specifically shares about mental health through the lens of entrepreneuership and how he can see the conversation around mental health in professional settings changing.
The difference between confidence and competence is stark, but not always visible. John O'Sullivan, aided by top performance psychologist Jonah Oliver, breaks down the differences and explores the potential to praise the competence of elite athletes while neutralizing stress, fear, or other performance detriments.