EL1 Sports’ Post

A new study by Women's Sports Foundation (WSF) further proves that girls' participation in sports positively impacts their mental health! The foundation also emphasizes the importance of core ZGiRLS teachings such as learning to advocate for yourself and developing a growth mindset. Sports Participation Can Lower Depression and Anxiety ⚡ Mental health disorders are 1.5 to 2.5 times lower for girls who play sports vs those who never played. ⚡ 29% of girls who never played sports have moderate-to-high levels of depression symptoms vs. 17% of girls who currently play. ⚡ 21% of girls who never played sports have moderate-to-high levels of anxiety symptoms vs. 11% of girls who currently play. Sports Participation Has Promotive and Protective Benefits ⚡ Girls who play sports report 1.5 times higher levels of meaning and purpose compared to those who never played. ⚡ In sport settings that focus on effort, improvement, and teamwork, depression symptoms are significantly lower (3%) vs. settings where winning is the main goal and success is defined by ability compared to others (24.7%.) ⚡ In sport settings where girls have more “voice and choice” over goals and activities, depression symptoms are significantly lower (4%) vs. settings where they don’t have that opportunity (35.1%.) When we empower girls with inclusive and healthy opportunities to participate in sports, everyone wins!

Sports offers lifelines for Kids' Mental Health. The pandemic was a challenging time, and in an article by Allison Torres Burtka, showed that participation in sports can help mitigate some of these stressors. Thankfully, those times are behind us, but it still offers some really important insights. It’s a great read with some fantastic organizations doing the groundwork. What the author really underscores is the importance of making a wide variety of sports accessible to all children. Here are some of the key takeaways from the article: • Youth who participated in sports during the pandemic reported lower levels of depression, loneliness, and self-derogation . • Sports participation declined for both boys and girls during the pandemic, but declines were particularly steep among Hispanic and Black youth, youth in urban areas, and 12th graders. • Programs that directly address mental health and create spaces can be especially beneficial for young athletes. • Expanding access to a wider variety of sports and encouraging sports sampling can help more kids find enjoyment and mental health benefits in sports. Build Through Sport is dedicated to providing opportunities for all youth to play sports and experience the positive impact it has on their mental and physical health. We can all play a role in advocating for and providing more sports opportunities for kids.

Take a look at this insightful piece on the vital role sports play in supporting kids' mental health, especially during challenging times. This is why we are here, we understand the positive powers sports has and we are dedicated to providing opportunities for all youth to experience the positive impact of sports. Read more about the importance of accessible sports programs and how they can help our children thrive.

The Women's Sports Foundation released this incredible report today titled “Thriving Through Sport.” After reading through the work, two of the key findings really stood out to me. First, the statistics regarding youth sports involvement for girls with intersectional identities and/or marginalized communities was staggering. The lack of access and ongoing trends of inequity still need to be at the forefront of our minds. Additionally, the takeaway that sports sampling leads to better mental health outcomes than specialization stood out. The emphasis on one-sport athletes has been a toxic trend and expectation put upon “the best” athletes in my generation and beyond. However, that kind of pressure and lack of freedom can deteriorate a young person, both mentally and physically. Encouraging multisport participation must be a goal of every youth sports stakeholder. I’d recommend anyone interested in the development and support of youth sports and specifically girls in sports check out the executive summary and infographic detailing the findings.

#TakeActionTuesday: It’s #DisabilityPrideMonth, a time to honor the history, achievements and challenges faced by the disability community. 2X Paralympic snowboard gold medalist and WSF Travel & Training Fund grant recipient Brenna Huckaby PLY lost her leg to cancer at the age of 14 but that didn’t deter her from participating in the sport she loves. “Disability Pride Month to me, is a reminder of the incredible strength that comes from self-acceptance.” said Huckaby in a recent post to her Instagram. Her journey from a young girl navigating hardships on and off the slopes, to a world-class snowboarder, highlights the need for inclusive sports and recreational physical activity opportunities for young athletes with disabilities. Our recently-published Thriving Through Sport report highlights that girls with disabilities who are active in sports experience lower levels of depression and anxiety, along with higher levels of peer relationships, meaning, and purpose compared to their peers who do not play sports. These findings emphasize the importance of inclusive sports programs for girls, so we can see more athletes like Brenna reach their full athletic potential and #KeepPlaying. #TheEquityProject Your Turn: 1. Check out our latest research report ‘Thriving Through Sport’ at the link in our bio, which shows that sports provide a boost to mental health for all girls from all backgrounds across race, family income, parent education, sexual identity, and disability status. https://lnkd.in/eweX7zNg 2. Celebrate Disability Pride Month by supporting athletes with disabilities, listening to their stories and amplifying their voices. 3. Research local inclusive sports programs in your area and advocate for more opportunities for athletes with disabilities within your community.

A great article on seeing sport parents as resources the organizations can utilize rather than 'problems' they need to solve. I highly recommend reading the whole article. "Sports organizations could benefit from establishing mechanisms to gain deeper insights into the values, emotions, and thoughts influencing parental behaviours in specific sport settings. This involves bringing in a communication system that helps open dialogues without imposing lengthy tasks to be completed by parents or requiring extra training for parents. Below are 7 practical activities that can (a) help foster better relationships with parents, (b) provide parents with a better understanding of an organization’s objectives, and (c) ultimately minimize parents’ negative behaviours. 1. Create tools that allow parents to offer regular feedback. 2. Introduce and facilitate online forums.  3. Form parent-to-parent mentorship programs. 4. Establish parent-coach partnerships.  5. Develop video resources that model positive parenting behaviours. 6. Provide positive reinforcement and recognition. 7. Suggest evidence-based resources for parents. https://bit.ly/4ctiMcp

During #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth we're reminded of the power of sports: findings from the Women's Sports Foundation showed that girls who engage in sports are 1.5 to 2.5 times less likely to experience mental health disorders than those who don't. And imagine what's possible when these young women pair the mental health benefits of playing with the leadership skills learned through coaching. Powerful indeed.

NexxtGen Football Supports The Greater Game Initiative by The FA: #TheGreaterGame #FootballForChange #YouthWellness #HealthyLiving #CommunityImpact #HolisticDevelopment #YouthFootball #SupportYouth #Empowerment #PositiveChange #NexxtGenFootball #FounderSupport #GrassrootsFootball #FitnessForAll #WellnessInitiative Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eQbFcCqR Today marks a significant milestone in the realm of youth football as The FA launches The Greater Game campaign. This groundbreaking initiative, aimed at young people aged 12-16 and their families, seeks to instill healthier life choices through the power of football. At NexxtGen Football, we wholeheartedly endorse The Greater Game and its mission to promote youth well-being. As a platform deeply invested in the holistic development of young footballers, we recognise the pivotal role that sport plays in shaping not only athletic skills but also life skills. The Greater Game aligns seamlessly with our core values, and we are proud to throw our support behind this transformative initiative. Central to The Greater Game is a grassroots programme developed in collaboration with Nuffield Health, focusing on four fundamental elements: move, eat, sleep, and think. This programme equips coaches with the tools to integrate these principles into their coaching sessions, fostering healthier habits among young players. It's a proactive approach that transcends the boundaries of sport, nurturing well-rounded individuals both on and off the field. As founder of NexxtGen Football, I am personally inspired by The Greater Game's vision and potential to create positive change. "The Greater Game represents more than just a football initiative; it's a movement toward healthier, happier futures for our youth," says Steve Halls. "By leveraging the universal appeal of football, we can instill valuable life skills and promote well-being among young players." The Greater Game couldn't have come at a more critical juncture. In an age where sedentary lifestyles and poor dietary habits are increasingly prevalent among young people, initiatives like these are essential to combatting the health challenges of our time. Through The Greater Game, The FA aims to empower young individuals to take control of their health, one small step at a time. At NexxtGen Football, we are committed to championing The Greater Game and supporting The FA in their mission to foster healthier, happier communities through football. Together, we can create a brighter future for the next generation of athletes and leaders. Join us in supporting The Greater Game and together, let's make a difference in the lives of young footballers across the nation. http://dlvr.it/T6D7vc

"I’ve definitely seen a lot of players crying on the course because of their parents shouting at them. I remember this one time at a junior event when I was about 10 and I was playing with someone and her dad was just yelling at her the entire time and she was crying the entire time, which just makes me think about how much of a traumatic experience that must have been." This article explores athletes' perceptions of unsupportive parental behaviours in female golf. 61 youth golfers were recruited from 7 countries to participate in synchronous focus groups. They found three key themes for unsupportive behaviours: ⏩Emotional Ill-Treatment- negative comments, excessive shouting, support withdrawal (ignoring the child after a poor performance) ⏩Physical Ill-Treatment- physically striking a child,.throwing equipment at them, punishing the child with physical exertion ⏩Pressurizing Behavior- negative body behaviour, facial expressions, pushing kids into practices, focusing on performance outcomes, making negative comparisons with our competitors. The athletes shared that these behaviours contributed to attrition or switching sports. "I saw this dad having an absolute go at this little girl, I don’t even know what for, but we were like 6 years old or 7 years old… I’d just give up, I wouldn’t want to put myself in a position where I’m going to get yelled at for having a bad game, that’s just silly." This study highlights what our team continually advocates for in Australian sport- clear policies, practices, and codes of conduct that seek to de-normalise all forms of abuse in sport. Our recent work highlighted diverse challenges in children speaking about all types of abuse in sport, and how important clear guidance for reporting/responding to abuse in sport is. This article similarly concludes: "The findings of the current research reinforce the importance of transparent reporting mechanisms for allegations of abuse in youth sport and continued stakeholder education (i.e., parents, coaches, officials) regarding recording and reporting procedures." https://lnkd.in/gTqFnTUj #research #safesport #abuseinsport