Goal Setting Exercises

• Begin by holding a team meeting to introduce the concept of setting mental health and wellness goals.
• Discuss the significance of these goals for individual well-being and team performance.

• Distribute worksheets to athletes where they can identify one personal mental health and wellness goal and one team-oriented goal.
• Encourage athletes to make these goals SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound).

• Create a digital platform, such as a shared spreadsheet or goal-setting app, to track athletes’ progress.
• Designate a responsible team member to maintain and update this tracking system.

• Schedule regular check-ins during team meetings to discuss and celebrate individual and team goal achievements.
• Acknowledge and reward athletes who make significant progress toward their goals with positive feedback or small incentives.

Wellness Challenges

• Collaborate with your team to identify wellness challenges related to physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and stress management.
• Ensure that these challenges are relevant and engaging for the athletes.

• Organize the challenges as friendly competitions within the team, with clear rules and guidelines.
• Assign point values or rewards for participation and success in each challenge.

• Create a physical or digital scoreboard where athletes can track their participation and progress in the challenges.
• Regularly update the scoreboard to maintain athletes’ engagement.

• After each challenge, hold team discussions to reflect on the impact of these challenges on mental well-being.
• Encourage athletes to share their experiences, lessons learned, and any adjustments they made in their daily routines.

Team Mental Health Pledges

• Schedule a team meeting to collaboratively draft a team mental health pledge that includes specific commitments.
• Emphasize support, empathy, and well-being in the language of the pledge.

• Have each athlete sign the pledge as a symbol of their commitment to it.
• Designate a visible location in the team’s environment, such as the locker room, where the signed pledges can be displayed.

• During team meetings, periodically revisit the pledge to reinforce its importance.
• Encourage athletes to hold one another accountable to the commitments outlined in the pledge.

“Check-In” Sessions

• Establish a consistent schedule for team check-in sessions, whether it’s weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.
• Create a structured format to ensure that every athlete has an opportunity to speak.

• In the check-in sessions, provide a structured format that includes questions like “How are you feeling today?” and “Is there anything you’d like to discuss?”
• Encourage active listening and empathy among team members as each athlete shares.

• Ensure that athletes know where to find appropriate support if they express concerns or struggles.
• Provide information about available resources, such as coaches, counselors, or other professionals.

Role Reversal Day

• Select a specific day for the role reversal exercise, and communicate the plan to the athletes well in advance.
• Outline clear tasks or responsibilities for each athlete to take on.

• After the role reversal day, schedule a team debrief session where athletes can share their experiences.
• Discuss what they learned about the challenges and responsibilities of other team members and how this exercise enhanced empathy.

• Encourage athletes to reflect on the role reversal experience and how it can lead to greater empathy and teamwork within the team.
• Discuss practical ways to apply these lessons in their daily interactions.