Young people today face a myriad of challenges that can profoundly impact their mental health. Teachers, coaches and educators are often dealing with students facing bullying and peer pressure, unsolicited and inappropriate content on social media, and issues around anxiety and self-doubt that affect their performance academically and in the world of sport.

Rugby Buddy, founded by ex-rugby professional Charlie Hodgson, has set out to tackle this prevalent issue head-on, creating The Rugby Buddy Academy. Its mindset and skills coaching focuses just as much on resilience, communication and building confidence in rugby players as on sharp playing abilities to ensure the next generation of players are fully supported and, importantly, have the tools to thrive in fiercely competitive environments.

The rugby coaching specialists have shared some insight into why confidence isn't an innate skill that every young person has, and shed light on the substantial underlying problems that, if left unaddressed, can seriously affect the life chances and aspirations of even the most gifted children.

Exploring Rising Issues Around Mental Health in Young Sports Players

We talk about mental health as a broad-scope term, but this can manifest in many ways for the young people and families we work with. An editorial published by the National Library of Medicine examined this topic and found that roughly 50% of all people who develop a mental health disorder first display symptoms or receive a diagnosis before they reach 18, but a shocking 58% of teens with poor mental health are never treated.

Signs can range widely, from low mood and anxiety to disordered eating and substance abuse, which means that, in too many cases, problems might go unnoticed or be masked by the young person.

Youth athletes are particularly vulnerable due to ingrained stigmas and a lack of access to support, along with perceptions that disclosing a potential mental health issue could impede their opportunities, further compounding barriers to proper care.

Far from being a problem for only a small proportion of young players, mental health challenges become more pronounced or likely to unfold in those playing at an elite level, where the demands and expectations placed on these children, who haven’t yet developed the emotional maturity to cope, can have a severe impact.

Intense training regimes, fear of injury and rejection, or continual self-analysis and criticism can mean a youth player who appears to be happy and who performs on the field is anything but well. The nature of competitive sport always involves some degree of pressure, but coaches and parents must recognise that children require dedicated support to build the resilience to manage these stressors.

How Coaching Confidence and Self-Belief in Youth Rugby Players Can Have Life-Changing Impacts

Perhaps the easiest way to explain the gap between rugby prowess and mental well-being is that young people who excel in rugby, as well as in other sports, are often celebrated for what they can do, not who they are, the qualities they bring to a team, or their attributes like kindness, respect, and empathy.

As adults, most of us have the self-awareness to differentiate between physical ability and who we are as people, and acknowledge that our roles as friends, teammates, family members, and peers are just as meaningful as our practical capabilities and talents. However, this isn't a given, and a significant proportion of adult athletes also experience mental health concerns.

Issues like burnout, anxiety and depression can affect up to 35% of elite athletes, due to the extreme pressure they perform under, the expectations of fans, teammates, and coaches and the relentless need to achieve perfection, an ideal that doesn't exist.

Being open and honest and ensuring young people are guided through to retain a balance is vital, protecting players from mental health issues before they occur, or making sure they know how to ask for help if they recognise a new emotion or feelings of growing anxiety.

Real-life feedback from academy players is a great way to illustrate the effects of dedicated coaching support, with Alex saying, 'That mental fog has cleared. My Dad has noticed a positive change in me’, and Millar, that 'I used to overthink everything, but now my self-talk has improved, I am in control.’

Control is a fundamental aspect because young people often don't feel that they have any. Teaching them how to take back autonomy in their decision-making and how to have responsibility for their well-being can combat external pressures and ensure they know they are in charge.

Improving Aspiration and Achievement in Children Through Mentorship 

Academy coaching isn’t solely for rising stars of youth rugby, but for any child competing at any level who has experienced issues, such as fixating on mistakes, freezing on the field, or struggling to focus on other areas of life, like schoolwork and friendships.

Children who gain assurance in their skills often see a boost in their confidence, and the more confident a young person feels, the stronger and healthier their mindset becomes, developing the attributes coaches look for, such as working hard, persistence, commitment, and making quick decisions.

Diligence is often one of the standout traits sportspeople need to have, but unchecked and unbalanced laser focus can still be detrimental. For instance, a young person who forces themselves through gruelling and unnecessarily punishing training sessions, restricts their food, or self-medicates to try and return faster from injury might be diligent, but is also putting their mental and physical health at risk.

Aspiration is just as important as achievement, because not every child will become a rugby international, just as every tennis player won't reach Wimbledon. Having the motivation to achieve their full potential, but the resilience to bounce back if their ambitions turn out to be unrealistic, is the key to lifelong mental strength.

If you are a coach, a sports teacher or a parent and are worried about the mental welfare of a child, we’d always suggest acting to ensure they know how to reach out for support, and if you have concerns, there are several resources out there, including those from NHS services, Mind, Childline and Young Minds.

References:
https://deconstructingstigma.org/guides/athlete-mh
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10086277/