2.3 THE ROLE OF SPORTS CLUBS IN PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH.

Sports clubs are more than places for physical development they are social and emotional ecosystems. When trainers and staff understand what stress looks like and how it works, they can shift the entire atmosphere of the club.What can clubs do?

  • Start the conversation. Normalize talking about nerves, fear, and frustration.
  • Watch for signs. Withdrawal, tension, self-doubt, or lack of motivation are common red flags.
  • Create space. A quick team check-in at the start of training, or a few minutes for breathing, can set a tone of safety and care.
  • Train the trainers. As noted in the focus groups, many trainers simply lack the tools. Giving them basic training in emotional awareness and mindfulness can make a real difference.Include parents. Education and communication with families can reduce harmful pressure and build trust.

Focus group participants stressed that short, regular mindfulness routines, even 5 minutes are realistic and impactful. These practices don’t interrupt the training. They enhance it.

Activity 1: Group discussions on personal experiences with stress

Objective: To encourage self-reflection and peer learning by sharing personal experiences with stress and anxiety in sports.

Duration: 20-25 min

Group format: Small groups of 3-5 participants, then plenary sharing (Optimum group size is 20–25 participants, with a maximum of 30)

Materials: Flipchart or white chart, markers, sticky notes

Instructions:

  1. Participants are divided into small groups of 3–5 people.
  2. Ask them to reflect individually for 2 minutes on:
    • “What situations in sport have caused you or someone you train to feel stressed or anxious?”
    • “What helped in that moment? What made it worse?”
  3. In groups, each participant shares their examples.
  4. Groups list common triggers and coping strategies on sticky notes.
  5. Each group posts their notes on a wall/board under two columns: Stress triggers and Helpful responses.
  6. In plenary, review the posted ideas and highlight recurring patterns or unique solutions.

Debriefing 10 min:

  • What were the most common stress triggers?
  • Did you notice similarities across different sports?
  • How could trainers respond more effectively when they notice stress?
  • What role can peers or teammates play in reducing stress?

Outcome: Participants recognize shared stressors in sport, learn coping strategies from peers, and identify trainer actions that support mental well-being.

Case studies from athletes how to address stress and anxiety:

Provide real-life examples from the Stanford article or from local athletes (or use adapted quotes from the focus groups). Discuss how the athlete managed their stress and what role the trainer or environment played.

https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2024/07/deep-breath-see-the-ball-trust-how-pro-athletes-handle-stress

Activity 2: Mental scan exercise (5-10 min):

Objective: To promote emotional self-awareness and reflection by guiding participants through a mindful mental scan.

Duration: 5-10 min

Group format: Whole group, individual experience (Optimum group size is 20-25 participants, with a maximum of 30)

Material: None (optional: yoga mats or chairs)

Instructions:

  1. Trainer invites participants to sit or lie down comfortably, with eyes closed or softly focused.
  2. Trainer guides them through this inner journey
    • “Think back to one of your most positive or proudest moments in sport. Where were you? What were you doing? How did it feel in your body and mind? Let that memory fill your awareness.”
    • “Now shift your focus to a challenging or difficult moment in sport. What happened? How did it feel? What thoughts or emotions came up?”
    • “Observe these moments with curiosity—not judgment. Notice how your body and mind respond as you recall each memory.”
  3. End up with 3 slow breaths: in through the nose, out through the mouth.

Debriefing 5 min:

  • What did you notice when recalling your best and worst moments in sport?
  • How do those past experiences still influence your current mindset or behavior in sport?
  • How could this kind of reflection help you handle future challenges or celebrate progress more mindfully?

Outcome:
Participants will increase emotional awareness of how past sport experiences shape their reactions and behaviors today.

Activity 3: Stress mapping

Objective: To help participants visually identify where and how stress shows up in the body, and discuss practical ways to respond.

Duration: 25-30 min

Group format: Individual work, then group discussion (Optimum group size is 20-25 participants, with a maximum of 30)

Materials: Large paper (A3), body outline template (simple human figure), markers or colored pencils.

Instruction:

  1. Body outline needs to be distributed on the front view to each participant
  2. Trainer is asking the participants to think about the last time they felt stressed in sport.
  3. Trainer is inviting them to use colors or symbols to mark on the body outline where they felt stress (tight shoulders, stomach discomfort, tense jaw, headache…)
  4. Underneath the figure, they need to write one sentence about what triggered that stress.
  5. Trainer is pairing participants to share their drawings and reflections.
  6. Trainer is gathering them as a group and ask: What patterns do we notice?

Debriefing 5 min:

  • What did you learn about how your body reacts to stress in sport situations?
  • Was it easy or difficult to share your drawing and experience with a partner? Why?
  • How might recognizing physical signs of stress help you manage it more effectively in the future?

Outcome: Participants increase awareness of physical signs of stress and learn to respond earlier, preventing escalation into anxiety or burnout.

Reflections and discussion questions connected with this Module:

  • What are the most common stress triggers among young athletes in your experience?
  • How can trainers recognize early signs of stress before it escalates?
  • Which of the stress-reducing tools from this module feels easiest to implement?
  • How can your club open up space for young athletes to talk about mental pressure?

By the end of this module, participants will:

  • Understand what stress and anxiety look like in the lives of young athletes.
  • Recognize how these states affect physical performance and emotional well-being.
  • Identify ways sports clubs and trainers can actively support mental health through awareness, communication, and simple mindfulness practices.
  • Have at least 3 practical NFE-based activities to discuss and address stress with athletes