Coaches are an integral part of any team and play a key role in an athlete’s success both on and off the field (or pool). Great coaches understand the importance of physical AND mental health and place an emphasis on self-care and recovery. We’ve compiled a list of five ways that coaches can be a resource to their athletes through their 2020 mental health journey.

1. Understand player concerns and limitations

With professional sports making a comeback, many young and collegiate athletes have been training virtually over Zoom, with little indication of when they will return to in-person practices. As a coach, it’s important to put yourself in your athletes’ shoes and understand their concerns and limitations when it comes to training again. Ask yourself to be realistic when setting expectations for your athletes upon their return and remember that their physical and mental health takes top priority. Be prepared to readjust your team’s training schedule by using beginning practice sessions as a way for athletes to get reacquainted with their teammates and the coaching staff.

2. Hold virtual one-on-one meetings with players

Make it a priority to check in with each player on your team through one-on-one meetings every week to gauge their mental health and how they’ve been adjusting to the new “normal.” This is a great opportunity for you to be more than just a coach and to connect with players on a deeper level. Reiterate to your athletes that your meetings are a safe space for them to talk about anything from struggles at school to situations happening in their personal lives. As a coach, you should be sensitive to your athletes’ emotions by establishing a different kind of relationship that goes beyond the field of play. Your athletes will need the reassurance that you are there for them and will work through any situation they may come across.

3. Recognize additional stressors

Recognize that your athletes have so many more things on their plate besides sports, including school and their families. As a coach, you need to understand that through the pandemic, your athletes have been through a lot emotionally and reducing additional stressors at practice is key to their success. Remind them that it’s okay to feel anxious and worried about their future since much of it is still uncertain. Keep the logistics of your school or university’s athletic department out of practice and take the time to reiterate and praise your players for all their hard work.

4. Act as a neutral and factual resource

As teams return to in-person practices, your athletes will have questions about when they will be able to practice again or if their team will be able to compete in the upcoming season. Your job is to not give them false hope or information that could further drain their mental health. It’s okay for you to not have all the answers -- we’re still trying to figure things out ourselves! Be as honest as possible and answer your athletes’ questions when appropriate. Important information to share includes anything that will have a direct impact on the team. Your athletes are counting on you to guide them through these difficult times and it is your job to ensure they feel cared for and supported.

5. Be an advocate for self-care

TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF! We cannot stress enough how important it is for athletes to have time to decompress and be away from practice. Create a support system for your athletes that give them the space they need to feel at ease. Encourage your athletes to be creative and pursue their passions outside of practice. Remind them that they are so much more than players on the field (or the pool) and that practicing self-care is necessary to maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

Resources: 

Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) Blog (March 19, 2020), The COVID-19 Pandemic: Tips for Athletes, Coaches, Parents, and the Sport Community