Sports clubs have the potential to provide a profound and positive impact on the mental health of their younger members, but the whole club must be engaged to make a real difference.

A new study by Flinders University, published in Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, shows that while coaches are often the focus of mental health efforts in sport, real and sustainable change relies on recognizing the role of all club stakeholders including parents, committee members, trainers and volunteers.

“Our findings suggest that mental health initiatives in youth sporting clubs need to go beyond coaches to embrace a ‘whole-club’ approach,” says lead author, registered psychologist and Ph.D. student, Kate Rasheed.

“Sporting clubs are made up of so many moving parts and if we want to truly support young people, we need to consider the club as a whole, and not just rely on coaches or one passionate individual.”

With growing recognition of sporting clubs as venues for mental health promotion, various programs and resources have been developed for these locations.

“Some programs have shown promise in improving mental health outcomes, however it’s still not regarded as a priority,” says Rasheed from the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work.

Drawing on interviews with 23 South Australian sporting club stakeholders, including coaches, trainers, presidents, and parents, the study found strong recognition of the importance of community clubs supporting youth mental health.

However, this recognition is rarely translated into meaningful or ongoing engagement with club-based mental health initiatives.

“Many participants described one-off efforts or ‘token’ activities that lacked integration into club culture or routine,” she says.

“We really need to rethink how mental health strategies are framed and delivered.

“They should not only focus on individual well-being but also a broader perspective that includes support and education for players, coaches, and staff, as well as the club’s policies, culture, and structure.

“By addressing these, clubs can create a more supportive environment rather than just implementing isolated programs.

“It ensures mental health initiatives are embedded in the club’s identity, making them more effective and long-lasting.”

The study also found that a greater emphasis needs to be placed on helping clubs create safe, inclusive environments, and integrate mental health support into existing practices and routines of sport.

Importantly, these efforts must also work to bridge the persistent gap between performance, physical health, and mental health by using sport-specific strategies that make mental well-being part of everyday training and play.

“Unlocking a club’s potential requires a collective, multilayered approach tailored to each individual club,” she says.

“We’re not saying clubs necessarily have to do more, but they do need to do things differently. Even small, well-aligned steps when embedded in club culture and routine can make a meaningful difference.”

According to Challenger Sports, from the ages of 2-5, the camp includes “games, activities, and adventures to introduce and develop coordination, balance, running, stopping, turning, kicking, dribbling, throwing, and catching.”

For the kids from ages 6-12, the camp offers “a cultural, educational, and informational program that uses soccer to teach core values of responsibility, integrity, respect, sportsmanship, and leadership.”

“Exposure to the sport,” Hughes said. “Hopefully some excitement that will astir their soccer careers and help them continue to play and enjoy it.”

With soccer being an international sport, Hughes is hopeful that the sport will continue to grow and bring more kids out to participate.

“Challenger offers a variety of camps and opportunities for kids,” she said. “They’re a pretty cool company. They do camps across the country, and they’ve been awesome to work with.”

WAKE COUNTY, N.C. — As concerns over youth mental health continue to grow, communities are turning to an outlet to help young people cope: sports. From physical activity to social support, studies show playing sports can have long-lasting mental health benefits. 

        What You Need To Know

• North Carolina FC Youth knows youth sports can serve as an outlet to alleviate stress

• From physical activity to social support, studies show playing sports can have long-lasting mental health benefits

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a study in 2023 that found 40% of these teens said that they’ve dealt with persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year

• Some programs also offer financial aid for families, making it easier to access youth leagues regardless of income

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2023, a study found that among high school students across the nation, in the past year many teens face mental health issues. According to the study, 40% of these teens said that they’ve dealt with persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year. Nationwide, 20% of teens reported seriously considering attempting suicide in the past year.

In 2023, the CDC reported how teen’s mental health is taking a decline. (Spectrum News)

North Carolina FC Youth is the largest club in North Carolina, offering soccer to children from the ages of 5 to 18 across the Triangle. Lucia Namey, an NCFC Youth soccer player, said the game means everything to her.

“It was genuinely life-changing for me,” Namey said. “I don’t know where I’d be without soccer.”

Namey recently injured a ligament in her knee. 

“With injuries, they’re just very isolating, and you feel very lonely, because no one knows exactly what you are going through,” Namey said.

She said that if it weren’t for the support of her teammates, she wouldn’t have been able to get through her injury.

“Everyone showed up for me when I need their support the most,” Namey said. “I think that in moments like that, when you’re at your lowest, having a big circle around you, showing you love, helps get you through because you know that you’re not alone, even when you do feel alone.”

Her favorite part of being on the team is the strong support system that sports teams like these can bring.

“Being here definitely just boosts your mood. I leave feeling much happier,” Namey said. “I can be having the worst day, and I know that I’ll leave here feeling so much better.”

For her, it’s not only about the support of her teammates, but also being able to let off some steam and be physically active after school.

Lucia Namey, NCFC Youth soccer player, is out with an ACL injury, but she still comes to practices to support her teammates. (Spectrum News 1/Ashley Van Havere)

“You get that anger out, you get to express yourself in a different way that’s not screaming or yelling at someone,” Namey said.

It’s not just about the exercise, NCFC Youth Chief Marketing and Development Officer Katharine Eberhardt said the social side of sports plays a huge role in mental well-being.

“Mental health is such an important topic, it always has been, and especially now, it’s a part of the conversation,” Eberhardt said. “We want parents to be talking with their kids, we want coaches to be talking with their their players.”

With a world full of screen time, Eberhardt said it’s becoming even more important for activities like these to exist.

“It’s great to have an outlet where we can create this environment that allows kids some freedom to become friends,” Eberhardt said.

For NCFC Youth Coach Tom Misuraca, it’s all about watching the teens grow as people and have fun on the field.

“You just got to keep them up and keep them going, get their confidence back, let them know they’re doing a good job and just be there for them and talk to them when they when they get down,” Misuraca said.

For these kids, the real win isn’t just what’s on the scoreboard, but it’s in feeling supported. Sports doesn’t fix everything, but it might just be part of the solution. 

Some programs also offer financial aid for families, making it easier to access youth leagues regardless of income. If you’re interested in joining a youth sports team, here are some helpful resources:

NCFC Youth sign-ups

City of Raleigh’s youth athletics

YMCA of the Triangle’s youth sports

Town of Cary’s youth sports

Town of Wake Forest’s youth sports

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In the summer kids are supposed to be able to run around outside and play. But this recent rain is keeping them off the sports fields, and it seems like it will continue to do so.

During the summer, many programs host baseball camps for kids in Tuscaloosa county. But the recent rainfall has made it difficult for kids to play on the field and run around

“Y’know, weather’s something I learned a long time ago you can’t control it. You just try to work around it,” said Shelton State Community College head baseball coach Bobby Sprowl.

Due to Monday’s rain, Shelton State Community College pushed the start of their baseball camp back a day.

This was one of many changes Shelton State has planned to make because of the weather.

“We’ll take them underneath our cages or indoors to let them hit, so we usually put some of that stuff off til a little later in the day. And we’ll go over pitching somewhere along the line, which we can do inside if we have to and then bring them outside later and throw,” said Sprowl.

Even if the rain stops, that does not guarantee kids can immediately run out and play on the fields.

Organizations and programs have to take certain steps to ensure their fields are safe.

“Y’know, in order to get them playable again after, it depends on how much it rains. But if it’s more then about half an inch, you got to make sure there’s not standing water on the field, and then rake them up, let them get a chance to dry out with some sun hopefully, put some field dry on the roughest spots and make sure it’s safe to play on,” said Warrior Baseball treasurer Ross Grimes.

This season Warrior Baseball has had to use 5,000 pounds of field dry because of all of the rain.

This summer’s constant rain has cancelled games, moved camps, and ruined fields. And with the possibility of more storms, it’s far from over.

However Grimes says luckily the plan for Kentuck’s new turf fields should be able to help with the rain problem in the future.

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SIOUX FALLS — South Dakota native and University of Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer will return to the state to take part in Sanford Sports Night on Thursday, July 10, at the Sanford Pentagon.

Sanford Sports Night with Kalen DeBoer will start at 6:30 p.m. and end at 8. Doors will open at 5:30.

Kurtiss Riggs, who was DeBoer’s teammate at the University of Sioux Falls, will moderate a discussion with DeBoer, focusing on the insights, challenges and future of youth sports. The evening will wrap up with a special message from DeBoer and a tribute to the Legends for Kids program, which is set to retire after 25 years of operation.

“It’s always great when I get the chance to come back to South Dakota, especially for such a special event like this one,” DeBoer said in a news release. “Sanford Health is a staple of this community, and it’s an honor to partner with an organization that has impacted this region so much.

“Returning home always reminds me of all the great people and places that made me who I am and helped me to get where I am today. My roots are in Sioux Falls, and coming back here as the head coach at the University of Alabama is truly a full-circle moment for me.”

In January 2024, DeBoer was named head coach at Alabama following the retirement of legendary coach Nick Saban. Last year, DeBoer led the Crimson Tide to a 9-4 record in his first season at the helm, notching three top-25 victories and tying the record for the most wins by a first-year coach in program history.

In total, DeBoer has a 113-16 record overall record as a head coach, which includes prior stints at Fresno State and Washington. He led the Huskies to the College Football Playoff national championship game in 2023.

“We are honored to have Kalen DeBoer return to Sioux Falls for this special night,” said Steve Young, president of Sanford Sports. “Coach DeBoer’s passion and philosophy have proven themselves time and time again over the course of his illustrious career.

“Fans, parents and student-athletes will learn a lot from his vision of the current landscape of youth sports, and we couldn’t be more excited to have him back in his home state!”

DeBoer was born and raised in Milbank and began his football journey at USF, where he set school records for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. In 2000, he returned to his alma mater as offensive coordinator before being promoted to head coach five years later. In five seasons at the helm of the Cougars’ program, DeBoer compiled an impressive 67-3 record, claiming three NAIA national titles (2006, 2008, 2009).

General admission tickets

can currently be purchased online

for $5. Groups of eight can reserve a table on the floor at Heritage Court, while suites are also available. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone at (605) 312-7917.

To purchase a ticket or suite, call the ticket office or email Sanford Sports Complex director Brock Reynoldson at brock.reynoldson@sanfordhealth.org.

Online ticket purchases, which are available until July 9, are subject to additional fees. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door on the day of the event.

Trent Singer is a sports reporter for Sioux Falls Live. He focuses his coverage on Augustana men’s hockey and Sioux Falls area sports. Singer’s previous stops include Just Women’s Sports, the Southeast Missourian and the Kentucky New Era.