The importance of mental well-being in school sport

Visit North West University press office Sport is an integral part of South African culture and young athletes work hard to reach the pinnacle of their sport disciplines. Unfortunately, their emotional well-being can be severely impacted by the pressures of high-level competitive sports, especially at school level. The North-West University’s (NWU) Centre for Health and Human Performance (CHHP) is shedding light on the psychological demands placed on children in sport and the importance of balancing performance with healthy development. Dr Michelle Bach, lecturer and senior clinical psychologist at the CHHP, says many children are training and competing at increasingly high levels from a young age. “Children are peaking much earlier due to targeted training, often driven by parents or coaches who see potential, or by the desire to gain access to top schools. Unfortunately, this can negatively impact their emotional well-being and development.” According to Dr Bach, more parents are seeking sport psychology support for their children, often in response to emotional and behavioural challenges. “We commonly see anxiety under pressure, anxiety attacks at home or even temper outbursts during games. These reactions often indicate that a child is not emotionally prepared for the level of pressure they are experiencing.” ‘If I do not perform, then who am I?’ She says childhood development plays a crucial role in how young athletes experience sport. “In children between the ages of six and 12, one of the most important developmental tasks is building a sense of achievement. The difficulty is that this has shifted towards performance rather than simply valuing who the child is.” Dr Bach points out that when a child’s sense of self becomes tied solely to performance, it can create vulnerability. “If I become what I do, what happens when I don’t perform? We then see that struggles off the field or court begin to emerge.” This can be particularly challenging during a