In My Head – Sport Performance/Psychology for Youth Athletes

The Cause

NLAC is a Metis led, nonprofit organization, with the mission to develop leaders in sport to be leaders in life. Sport psychology is crucial for youth athletes for several reasons. There have been many studies surrounding this topic. NLAC is aware of the benefits of sport psychology and want to bring that education to their athletes.

Sport psychology helps young athletes develop mental toughness and resilience, which are essential for handling the pressures of competition and setbacks. By addressing mental health issues and promoting a balanced approach to sports, sport psychology can help prevent burnout and keep young athletes engaged and passionate. Sport psychology provides strategies to manage stress and anxiety, which are common in competitive sports. This can lead to better performance and a more enjoyable sporting experience. Early exposure to sport psychology helps in building lifelong skills such as discipline, concentration, and emotional regulation, which are beneficial both in sports and life.

Overall, integrating sport psychology into youth sports programs can lead to more well-rounded, mentally strong, and successful athletes and humans. If the program were to be implemented without funding, the costs would significantly increase per athlete. Unfortunately, some of the youth that NLAC wants to provide programming to cannot afford that funding increase. NLAC is currently in the startup phase of business and funds do not exist to cover the cost of the sport psychology and sport performance.

NLAC strongly believes that all youth need to have mental health training that teaches them to know who they are, be strong with who they are, and have the confidence to face adversity. NLAC will work with community partners, such as The Winner Will. This program works closely with the University of Alberta Pandas Volleyball Team and is provided to the younger athletes in the Pandas Volleyball Club organization.

Funding will be used during one of NLAC’s Half Day sessions. This would include two hours of volleyball training, followed by 1-1½ hours of sport performance training with The Winner Will – Peak Under Pressure training. In addition to the session, athletes will be given access to online modules to work through and refer to when needed. NLAC Founders have seen this program successfully delivered to female youth athletes aged 8-13. The topics covered in this training are echoed in program provided by NLAC which will reinforce the learning.

Who Will it Benefit?

Our target population consists of, but is not limited to, youth aged 8-13 from underprivileged backgrounds in the Edmonton area, with a particular focus on Indigenous youth. NLAC has started to work with the Indigenous Sport Council of Alberta, offering a minimum of 67% of program spots to Indigenous youth. Studies have shown that these youth face significant socioeconomic challenges, such as lower household income and limited access to quality education and extracurricular activities.

Cultural identity and heritage play a crucial role in their lives, and our training program will respect and incorporate their cultural practices and traditions. Many of these youth experience higher rates of mental health issues and chronic conditions, necessitating a holistic approach to their well-being. Educationally, Indigenous youth in our target group have lower high school completion rates and face barriers to employment opportunities. Our program aims to provide them with the necessary skills and support to overcome these challenges and achieve long-term success.

Although there is a focus towards Indigenous youth, NLAC welcomes all youth. Our objective is to provide quality training to youth by removing that financial barrier. By expanding our focus to include all youth, we aim to create an inclusive environment that addresses the needs of a diverse population. This includes youth from various ethnic backgrounds, those living in tight financial situations, and those facing social and economic hardships. Our program will ensure that all participants, regardless of their background, have access to the resources and support they need to thrive.