psychology AND WELLBEING PROGRAM
Sports and Performance Psychology
Enhancing Mental Skills for Optimal Performance
At Wellington Phoenix Academy, we understand that young players need to develop not only their technical, tactical, and physical skills but also their mental resilience. Sports and performance psychology play a crucial role in helping players perform their best.
What is Sports and Performance Psychology?
Sports psychology focuses on how the brain affects the way we think, feel, and act. It helps athletes learn how to manage their thoughts and emotions, especially under pressure.
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Our Approach
A successful sports psychology program doesn’t just focus on the individual player. It also considers the environment around them. At Wellington Phoenix Academy, we aim to create a supportive, psychologically informed environment (PIE). This means we work with the entire team, staff, coaches, and leadership to foster a positive atmosphere.
Our Goals
- Performance and wellbeing education: Teach players about performance psychology and wellbeing.
- Self-understanding and identity: Help players understand themselves and their identity.
- Performance mindset: Develop a strong mental attitude toward performance.
- Mental strength and resilience: Equip players with tools to handle stress and adversity.
How do we do this at the Academy?
We offer a structured program that grows with the players:
- Team/Group sessions: These sessions follow a progressive education program suited to different ages and stages of development.
- Initial focus: Starts with understanding oneself and overall wellbeing.
- Advanced focus: Progresses to developing mental skills for handling performance pressure and challenges.
Athlete Wellbeing and Mental Health
Our sports psychologists work to ensure a psychologically safe environment by:
- Creating policies: Developing policies that are psychologically informed and centred on individual needs.
- Staff and coach education: Training staff and coaches on youth development and psychology.
- Overseeing wellbeing: Monitoring the overall wellbeing of players.
- Connecting to mental health services: Linking players with available mental health resources in the community.
- Family involvement: Engaging with athletes’ families and guardians.
By integrating sports psychology into our training environment, Wellington Phoenix Academy helps players develop the mental skills needed to succeed both on and off the field.
