TRAINING
CYCLE
We target to educate all important stakeholders of a sport system adopting an athlete-centered strategy. Thus, this task aims to plan and deliver a Training Cycle for (i) coaches, (ii) athletes, (iii) managers, (iv) parents/guardians.
→ to train coaches and managers on the topic “Mental Health in Aquatic Athletes & Digital Monitoring”,
→ to educate athletes though the method Athlete-to-Athlete mentoring using role model athletes
→ to raise parents’ awareness and equip the with basic knowledge about mental health (signs & symptoms)
1
Course "Mental Health in Aquatic Athletes & Digital Monitoring"
Topics: (i) Introduction to mental health signs and symptoms in aquatic athletes, (ii) Effects of aquatic sports on mental health, (iii) Strategies for promoting mental health in aquatic athletes – introducing the SAMA approach developed in T1.2, (iv) Digital technology and mental health monitoring in aquatic sports – introducing the new tools developed in T1.2, (v) Privacy concerns in digital monitoring, (v) Best practices for using digital monitoring in mental health management, (vi) Case studies of successful digital monitoring programs in other sports, (vii) The future of mental health monitoring in aquatic sports.
2
Athlete-to-Athlete Mentoring
We will use the learning method Athlete-to-Athlete Mentoring and deliver 4 educational seminars (2 hours each/4 days) for younger athletes by well-known aquatic athletes, titled “Sport experience speaks to Sport youth”.
Topics: (i) Introduction to mental health and the stigma surrounding mental illness, (ii) Identifying the signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and eating disorders, (iii) Coping mechanisms and strategies for dealing with mental health issues, (iv) Overcoming barriers to seeking help for mental health problems, (v) Sharing personal stories and experiences of mental health struggles and recovery, (vi) Mental preparation tips for competition, (vii) Goal-setting and visualization techniques, (viii) Time management and balancing academics and sports, (ix) Transitioning from amateur to professional athlete.
3
Leaders-to-Parents Seminars
We will use the “educational leadership approach” for successful parent engagement in their child’s mental health
Topics: (i) Understanding the term mental health, sign and symptoms, (ii) Building resilience in young athletes: Strategies for Parents, (iii) Navigating the challenges of competitive sports and coping mechanisms for parents, (iv) Balancing academics and athletics and the impact on mental health – tips for parents, (v) The role of parents in identifying and addressing mental health concerns in young athletes, (vi) Social media and its effects on athlete mental health, (vii) The importance of sleep and nutrition for athlete mental health, (viii) Mental health stigma in athletics and how parents can help break the stigma.