Gymnastics & Mental Health Project
We are very grateful for the funding provided by Fife Council to run this project, and to Enigma Gymnastics Club for being so engaged.
We designed a unique, holistic course of development for Enigma's 20+ volunteers, which included 10 workshops. The project contributed to two local agendas: “Opportunities for All & Community Led Services” and ‘Thriving Places’.
We developed a clear rationale for the project, based on our research; namely that:
We designed a unique, holistic course of development for Enigma's 20+ volunteers, which included 10 workshops. The project contributed to two local agendas: “Opportunities for All & Community Led Services” and ‘Thriving Places’.
We developed a clear rationale for the project, based on our research; namely that:
- People living in areas of high deprivation are at disproportionate risk of experiencing poor mental health.
- However, many mental health problems are preventable and evidence shows it may be most effective to target young people as most mental health problems start in childhood or adolescence.
- Moreover, mental health problems at this age often lead to crime, bullying, or poor academic attendance, all of which in turn are predictors of long-term life chances.
- Sport is well-placed to make a positive social difference, but many children and young people experience emotional harm during their experiences of sport, meaning sport loses its potential to make a positive social impact.
- Sport must be done in a way that protects and nurtures mental wellbeing, and which involves skillful, pro-social role models, who understand the context they’re operating within.
- Youth sport practitioners are therefore some of the most influential and potentially impactful social change-makers in society and deserve to be supported in that important role.
We received wonderful feedback, demonstrating the range of benefits of a mindful approach to sport:
"Over the past year working with Sam from The True Athlete project we have created a bespoke wellbeing training programme for our volunteers. The programme embodies the Club vision of “building a proud local community where people can thrive in sport and in life”. The provision of a nurturing environment and an emotionally safe place is crucial to the success of the Club and the relationship we have with our participants and their families. The programme is designed to give us the tools to deliver this. Through a series of virtual workshops, Sam has worked with our volunteers to upskill them, not only to better understand their own wellbeing but how they can support the positive wellbeing of others -be it fellow volunteers, our participants, or their families - and how we can practically implement this in our Club. We believe in using sport as agents for social change, are proud that our volunteers are fully engaged in this Changing Lives approach and are already starting to see the benefits in our club sessions."
"As the safeguarding officer for the club, the sessions on compassionate communication and mindfulness have been especially useful. These will help me be more equipped to notice if a gymnast may need some extra support or if they need to speak to someone regarding anything going on either at the club or outside of it and give me ways of dealing with any issues which may arise.”
“Having learned the body scan, I thought I would try it and it has helped me sleep better and in turn be more prepared for the morning. Knowing how to properly spend whatever free time I may have for mindfulness practice has helped stop feelings of nervousness about school and coaching which in turn has kept my head clear. Sam’s techniques also help to keep me focussed when I’m coaching.”
“Being involved with the TAP programme through our Club has helped me personally to STOP the bus and think about ME: the way I think, the way I listen and communicate with others. I feel an inner calm, which I now try to use whenever I feel stress of everyday life beginning to escalate. I have started to try and introduce breathing techniques to class and regularly check in with my gymnasts and listen and give encouragement. I have seen improvements with behaviour and attitudes in class too. Thank you, Sam, for your sessions, initially I was a bit sceptical how it would make any difference, but it has really helped me personally and feel I am helping others now too. I’m so glad I/we got to take part.”
“Personally, I’ve been using the 3 deep breaths a lot lately just due to how busy this time of the year is for me, and I feel using this technique has helped me to regain myself and get ready for my next daily tasks.
"The TAP programme has helped me as a person to manage my mental health and methods to stop any overwhelming thoughts or worries. It has also helped me when coaching younger children in our classes as I’m able to use some of the techniques I’ve learned to help them. For example, if a young gymnast is getting a bit fed up trying to learn a new skill that they can’t quite do yet, I think of a way I can support them, so they don’t give up, they keep trying and persevere.”
“Sam’s sessions have helped me personally to defuse some tension between my parents due to a change in their health. With the Club, it helped me have a better connection with a very quiet young person in my group. The rest of the group are loud, but this one child is shy and doesn’t like to try new or more challenging skills. Week by week, I’m seeing the young person engage more with me and other coaches and with peers. Together we are slowly understanding how the young person thinks and what works for them.”
“My participation in the TAP programme has really helped me through some difficult times at school. Learning mindfulness techniques with Sam has given me something to look forward to. It’s always really calming knowing I have that monthly, fortnightly, or weekly depending on the part of the programme we are on. It gave me a nice thought to continue the rest of a hard week with. I’ve enjoyed listening and speaking to other coaches in the club when we are working in breakout rooms and taking part in tasks set by Sam. I enjoy talking to others and feel I have learned from them particularly when I am in groups with coaches who are more experienced and older. I listen to them and use their experience to help me grow. I really enjoyed tuning in each Wednesday and having a really fun calming time. The programme has provided me with a variety of methods of to help gymnasts to remain focussed on what they are working on for longer and to overcome challenges they have both with behaviour and with confidence to try new things.”
“The sessions have helped me think more about how I structure my conversations with the gymnasts, with more open questions and thinking about using reflection more. On a personal note I have felt the mindfulness practises have helped me greatly during a time where my work is extremely busy and I am not being able to find as much time for myself to take stock.”
“Doing the TAP programme has helped me develop a lot of new and helpful skills for my role in the club. It has helped me understand gymnast views and also become closer with them. It has also led to them being more interested when we are trying new practices we have learnt during the programme as well as me being more observant during coaching and my own classes."
"Over the past year working with Sam from The True Athlete project we have created a bespoke wellbeing training programme for our volunteers. The programme embodies the Club vision of “building a proud local community where people can thrive in sport and in life”. The provision of a nurturing environment and an emotionally safe place is crucial to the success of the Club and the relationship we have with our participants and their families. The programme is designed to give us the tools to deliver this. Through a series of virtual workshops, Sam has worked with our volunteers to upskill them, not only to better understand their own wellbeing but how they can support the positive wellbeing of others -be it fellow volunteers, our participants, or their families - and how we can practically implement this in our Club. We believe in using sport as agents for social change, are proud that our volunteers are fully engaged in this Changing Lives approach and are already starting to see the benefits in our club sessions."
"As the safeguarding officer for the club, the sessions on compassionate communication and mindfulness have been especially useful. These will help me be more equipped to notice if a gymnast may need some extra support or if they need to speak to someone regarding anything going on either at the club or outside of it and give me ways of dealing with any issues which may arise.”
“Having learned the body scan, I thought I would try it and it has helped me sleep better and in turn be more prepared for the morning. Knowing how to properly spend whatever free time I may have for mindfulness practice has helped stop feelings of nervousness about school and coaching which in turn has kept my head clear. Sam’s techniques also help to keep me focussed when I’m coaching.”
“Being involved with the TAP programme through our Club has helped me personally to STOP the bus and think about ME: the way I think, the way I listen and communicate with others. I feel an inner calm, which I now try to use whenever I feel stress of everyday life beginning to escalate. I have started to try and introduce breathing techniques to class and regularly check in with my gymnasts and listen and give encouragement. I have seen improvements with behaviour and attitudes in class too. Thank you, Sam, for your sessions, initially I was a bit sceptical how it would make any difference, but it has really helped me personally and feel I am helping others now too. I’m so glad I/we got to take part.”
“Personally, I’ve been using the 3 deep breaths a lot lately just due to how busy this time of the year is for me, and I feel using this technique has helped me to regain myself and get ready for my next daily tasks.
"The TAP programme has helped me as a person to manage my mental health and methods to stop any overwhelming thoughts or worries. It has also helped me when coaching younger children in our classes as I’m able to use some of the techniques I’ve learned to help them. For example, if a young gymnast is getting a bit fed up trying to learn a new skill that they can’t quite do yet, I think of a way I can support them, so they don’t give up, they keep trying and persevere.”
“Sam’s sessions have helped me personally to defuse some tension between my parents due to a change in their health. With the Club, it helped me have a better connection with a very quiet young person in my group. The rest of the group are loud, but this one child is shy and doesn’t like to try new or more challenging skills. Week by week, I’m seeing the young person engage more with me and other coaches and with peers. Together we are slowly understanding how the young person thinks and what works for them.”
“My participation in the TAP programme has really helped me through some difficult times at school. Learning mindfulness techniques with Sam has given me something to look forward to. It’s always really calming knowing I have that monthly, fortnightly, or weekly depending on the part of the programme we are on. It gave me a nice thought to continue the rest of a hard week with. I’ve enjoyed listening and speaking to other coaches in the club when we are working in breakout rooms and taking part in tasks set by Sam. I enjoy talking to others and feel I have learned from them particularly when I am in groups with coaches who are more experienced and older. I listen to them and use their experience to help me grow. I really enjoyed tuning in each Wednesday and having a really fun calming time. The programme has provided me with a variety of methods of to help gymnasts to remain focussed on what they are working on for longer and to overcome challenges they have both with behaviour and with confidence to try new things.”
“The sessions have helped me think more about how I structure my conversations with the gymnasts, with more open questions and thinking about using reflection more. On a personal note I have felt the mindfulness practises have helped me greatly during a time where my work is extremely busy and I am not being able to find as much time for myself to take stock.”
“Doing the TAP programme has helped me develop a lot of new and helpful skills for my role in the club. It has helped me understand gymnast views and also become closer with them. It has also led to them being more interested when we are trying new practices we have learnt during the programme as well as me being more observant during coaching and my own classes."