Sport Coaching for Mental Well-being ONLINE COURSE
A free course designed for sport coaches and sport clubs who wish to improve their knowledge on the topic of mental well-being and inclusion of athletes in grassroots sport.
Sport & Psycho-social Initiative for Inclusive Training
Sport Coaching for Mental Well-being Conference
The project concluded with the final conference, entitled “Sport Coaching for Mental Well-being Conference” which will took in Arnhem, The Netherlands, on 13 October 2022.
Learn more about the programme and the topics of the conference
About SPIRIT project
The aim of the project SPIRIT is to develop a framework for humane, inclusive and empowering coaching and sport clubs that nurture mental wellbeing. The implementation of the concept of positively humane coaching can decrease drop-out levels in sport, thus increasing physical activity and improving public health. Moreover, vibrant and welcoming sports clubs result in more cohesive communities and societies, enhancing social inclusion.
12
partners
6
intelectual outputs
3
years running
Mental well-being
coaching toolkit
Coach development program with a collection of resources to protect and enhance mental well-being skills of sport participants.
Mental health is a state of well-being in which every individual realises one’s own potential and is able to make a contribution to one’s community. It encompasses emotional resilience, allowing us to enjoy life and overcome disappointments and sadness. Belief in our own, and others’ dignity and worth, underlies mental health. Coaching is an important area for mental well-being. In sports, the coaching professionals and volunteers not only promote future competitive success and the adoption of an active lifestyle, but also create the basis for lifelong health and well-being. Participating in sports supports mental health development and even the small acts and words that people encounter in sports can steer the future course of their lives.
Publications
IO1 Systematic Literature Review (SLR)
This systematic literature review investigates the role of coaches in the promotion of mental well-being-enhancing physical activity. It depicts factors that positively and negatively influence coaching behaviour and impact on the mental well-being of sport participants. Furthermore, the review provides a conceptual map for analysing these factors in the specific context of recreational grassroots sport, and recommendations for the training of coaches; what to consider for coaching; and how to promote mental well-being.
IO1 – SLR Key Findings
This document extracts some of the key findings of the systematic literature review above and presents them in an accessible manner to challenge sport coaches and clubs to reflect on their current practices.
Translations
This document is available in English, German, Dutch, Spanish, Greek, Bulgarian and Finnish.
IO2 – Mapping of Good Practices
This report describes the good practices collected by partner countries in the autumn of 2020 with which sports clubs promote mental well-being. The clubs’ mental well-being activities focused on healthy life habits, mental health skills, inclusion, and/or creating supportive sports club. The report describes the issues raised by the clubs and the results, strengths and weaknesses of good practices ultimately providing recommendations to other sports clubs going forward.
IO3 – Sport Coaching for Mental Well-being: Recommendations for Coach Education and Club Management
Why does mental well-being matter? Why does it matter to sport? The following document outlines 5 Recommendations to provide people and organisations involved in the education of grassroots sports coaches strategic guidance with regards to nurturing the mental well-being of grassroot athletes.
The Recommendations derive from a systematic literature review and a collection of good practice examples from sport clubs that promote mental well-being. They also include carefully considered feedback and insights from European sport or mental well-being experts via a Delphi Study.
IO4 – Mental Well-being toolkit
This toolkit is a coach development program that offers coaches a collection of resources with the aim of protecting and enhancing mental well-being skills of sport participants. It has been constructed upon scientific findings and recommendations, of Spirit project ́s deliverables, namely a systematic literature review, good practice collections from sport clubs and recommendation for coach educators.
IO5 – Online course
A free course designed for sport coaches and sport clubs who wish to improve their knowledge on the topic of mental well-being and inclusion of athletes in grassroots sport. The Sport Coaching for Mental Well-being course is composed of 6 individual modules. You can choose to complete all six, or select the module which interests you most. Click on a module below to start learning. Please note that your progress will not be saved.
IO6 – Key Learnings: evaluation report
The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Report is available here to download. The report serves two core functions. First, it offered a quality control measure for the project during the preparation and implementation phase. Secondly, the report is used to evaluate the project activities and identify key learnings from the implementation phase. By specifically evaluating the implementation of the coaching tools tested during Multiplier Events, the MEL manager together with the SPIRIT partners identified the most important and transferable learnings.
The project team
The project’s outcomes are a result of a collaborative partnership between 12 European organisations.
