Simple and Effective Mental Health Strategies

• During practice, warm-ups, breaks or cooldowns as part of a mental wellness routine.
• When youth are feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or anxious.
• To support teams or classrooms after difficult conversations or triggering events.
• When helping young people build confidence, focus, or calm before games or performances.

It’s approachable and flexible, making it easy to introduce wellness habits in a variety of soccer settings. These strategies are simple to implement yet meaningful in helping young people build positive coping skills especially in soccer programs based in communities that may lack mental health infrastructure.

• Are your coaches or mentors trained to safely introduce mental health practices?
• How can you integrate these strategies into your existing programming (e.g., warm-up, water breaks, post-game)?
• What supports are in place for participants needing more specialized care?
• How can players be invited to lead or adapt these strategies based on what works best for them?
• Consider creating a calm corner or “cool down” space using ideas from this sheet.
• Remember: this resource complements but does not replace professional mental health services. If you have concerns about a child’s well-being, seek help from a mental health professional. 

Doc Wayne delivers therapy that moves you. As the first and only provider of sport-based therapy, we use sports, games, and movement to make mental health care engaging and effective. In team-like settings, our Coach Clinicians help youth build resilience, coping skills, and a sense of belonging. We don't stop there. Lasting change comes when entire communities are involved. That’s why we also deliver training and traditional outpatient clinical support for adults—teachers, clinicians, coaches, mentors, community leaders, and more—equipping them with the tools to support themselves and reinforce healing and growth in others. Together, we create stronger connections and real results on and off the field.