Mental Health in Youth Sport: Why Coaches Matter More Than Ever

Youth sport is often celebrated for building discipline, teamwork, and physical strength. But behind every training session, competition, and performance milestone, there is also a young person navigating emotional challenges, social expectations, and personal growth.

For many children and adolescents, sport becomes a defining part of their identity. While this can create opportunities for confidence and development, it can also expose young athletes to pressure, anxiety, fear of failure, and burnout. Mental health in sport is therefore not a secondary issue - it is a fundamental part of healthy athlete development.

The AWARD project was created in response to this growing need, recognising that coaches and mentors play a crucial role in shaping not only athletic performance, but also emotional well-being and inclusion within youth sports environments.

Between the ages of 6 and 18, young people go through critical stages of emotional and psychological development. During this period, experiences in sport can significantly influence self-esteem, resilience, social confidence, and long-term well-being.

While sport can be empowering, young athletes may also experience:

• Performance anxiety

• Fear of disappointing coaches or parents

• Social exclusion or bullying

• Pressure to constantly succeed

• Emotional exhaustion and burnout

These challenges are often overlooked because the focus in sport tends to remain on physical achievement and results.

However, research increasingly shows that supportive sporting environments are essential for helping young athletes thrive both on and off the field.

Coaches are among the most influential adults in a young athlete’s life. Beyond technical instruction, they shape team culture, communication, confidence, and the overall emotional environment within sport.

A coach’s words, behaviours, and leadership style can directly impact how young athletes cope with stress, setbacks, and pressure.

Yet many coaches have never received formal training in:

• Emotional intelligence

• Mental well-being support

• Inclusive coaching practices

• Trauma-informed approaches

This is where the AWARD project aims to make a difference.

The AWARD project aims to develop resources and tools that will support coaches and mentors in creating healthier and safer sporting environments for young people.

The project promotes a holistic approach to coaching, where mental well-being is integrated into everyday sports practice rather than treated as a separate issue.

Success in sport is often measured through results and performance. However, long-term athlete development also depends on emotional resilience, self-awareness, and healthy coping mechanisms.

Research highlights the importance of areas such as emotional regulation, stress management, confidence building, communication, and coping with setbacks in supporting young athletes' well-being. 

These skills not only benefit athletic performance but also help young people navigate challenges in education, relationships, and everyday life.

Creating psychologically safe sporting environments requires collective effort from coaches, clubs, organisations, parents, and communities.

By empowering coaches with modern, inclusive, and athlete-centred approaches, AWARD contributes to:

• Safer and more supportive sports environments

• Reduced stigma around mental health

• Greater inclusion and participation

• Stronger relationships between coaches and athletes

• Long-term well-being for young people in sport

Mental health in youth sport is not optional, it is essential.

And coaches have the power to make a lasting difference.