We are happy to share that one of the key activities of the MINDPLAY project, namely the development of a Well-Being Training Programme for Coaches dedicated to mental health and the creation of an open-access online training platform, has been completed. This activity aimed to build a comprehensive training program and training materials to support sports coaches and mentors in their work with young people facing various mental health challenges. The main idea of the program is to provide coaches with knowledge, tools, and practices through which sport can become a means of promoting the mental and emotional well-being of young people.
The training programme comprises four thematic modules, with each project partner developing a separate module. Topics include recognising signs of mental health difficulties in young people, creating a supportive and safe environment within a sports team, raising awareness of mental health issues, effective communication and good practices for promoting well-being through sport. The programme aims to enable coaches to recognise the early signs of stress, anxiety or isolation among their athletes, create an atmosphere of trust and mutual support, and promote sport as a positive tool for personal development and self-confidence.
The development of the training programme was one of the project’s key results, with Mundus Bulgaria coordinating the work on it. Each of the consortium partners contributed their expertise and experience to create a balanced and practical training framework that meets the needs of coaches in Europe. The programme content was integrated into an open-access online platform developed by Lithuanian partner organisation Asociacija Aktyvistai. This platform offers training materials in multiple languages and is designed for sports coaches, mentors and anyone interested in learning about the connection between sport and young people’s mental health.
The training programme was presented and trialled with volleyball coaches and young people at an international volleyball match in Kaunas, Lithuania. This event allowed participants to familiarise themselves with the training materials and methods in a real sporting environment, and to share experiences on using sport to support mental well-being.
All modules of the Well-Being Training Programme for Coaches are now available on the online platform free of charge. Through the platform, coaches and sports organisations can learn about good practices, access interactive resources and expand their knowledge of how to promote mental health among young people through sport.
Visit the platform and learn more about how sport can become a tool for supporting mental health: https://mind-play.eu/learning-platform/.
