What Coaches Can Do: Building a Mentally Strong Team Without a Psychology Degree
- Brock Sawyer
- May 13
- 2 min read
#TeamTuesday | Mental Health Awareness Month
By Brock Sawyer | Vision Sporting Goods
Coaching isn’t what it used to be.
Today’s coaches are more than skill-builders or strategy gurus. They’re mentors, motivators—and for many athletes, one of the most influential voices in their lives.
That’s a powerful position—but it also comes with a silent weight. Because in addition to the X’s and O’s, coaches now face a rising need to support their players’ mental health—often without training, resources, or clear direction.
The good news? You don’t need a psychology degree to make a meaningful difference.
You just need intentionality, empathy, and a willingness to lead differently.
1. Create a Culture of Listening
Athletes don’t need coaches to solve all their problems—they just need to know it’s safe to be honest.
Start with simple, consistent check-ins:
“How’s your head today?”
“What’s something weighing on you?”
“On a scale of 1–10, how’s life outside the game?”
The goal isn’t therapy. It’s trust. And when athletes feel safe, they open up before things spiral.
2. Normalize Talking About Mental Health
Bring mental health into the conversation early and often—before there’s a crisis.
Try this:
Share a story of an athlete who struggled and got help.
Use post-practice huddles to talk about resilience, rest, mindset, not just performance.
Let athletes know they’re more than their stats.
Remember: if the only feedback they ever hear is about gameplay, they’ll assume their worth is performance-based.
3. Equip Yourself with Simple Tools
You don’t have to know everything—but you can have a few go-to strategies:
The “one-word” check-in: Ask each athlete to share a word that describes their mood.
Anonymous surveys: Let athletes voice mental health concerns privately.
Partner with counselors or sports chaplains: Even one guest speaker a season can shift the conversation.
4. Coach the Whole Athlete
Mental health isn’t a “sideline issue”—it’s central to performance.
Athletes under chronic stress:
Recover slower
Perform inconsistently
Are more injury-prone
Are more likely to burn out or quit
But athletes who feel supported:
Communicate better
Show up with resilience
Stay engaged longer
Grow as leaders—on and off the field
Final Thought: Leadership That Lasts
You won’t always see the impact of your support on the scoreboard.
But you’ll see it years later in who your athletes become.
At Vision Sporting Goods, we believe the best teams are built by coaches who care deeply—not just about winning, but about the people in their care. This Mental Health Awareness Month, we honor every coach showing up with heart, humility, and hope.
You’re shaping more than athletes. You’re shaping lives.
📖 Read more in our full Mental Health Awareness Month series:
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