Supporting Young Athletes Beyond Technical Coaching
We’re pleased to be working with Hurstpierpoint College as part of an online workshop series focused on the mental side of sport.
We were delighted to begin this series with a group of Hurst mentors who play an important role in supporting young athletes across the school’s sporting programmes.
The aim of this work is simple.
Young athletes are influenced not only by the training sessions they attend, but also by the wider environment around them — including the conversations, expectations and feedback they receive from the adults supporting them.
This workshop series explores how mentors can help shape that environment in a thoughtful and constructive way.
A Shared Interest in Development
Hurstpierpoint College has a long tradition of supporting sport within a structured and ambitious environment.
Alongside technical coaching, physical preparation and competition, the school places clear value on the broader development of its athletes.
Our role within this collaboration is not to replace existing coaching or mentoring structures. Instead, the workshops are designed to sit alongside them, helping mentors better understand how confidence, pressure and learning operate within sport.
The Focus of the Workshop Sessions
The workshops explore practical aspects of supporting young athletes, including:
- How language influences confidence
- Responding constructively to mistakes
- Helping athletes manage pressure
- Encouraging reflection and learning
Rather than focusing on theory, the sessions centre on everyday situations that mentors encounter when supporting athletes.
The intention is to offer simple, practical ideas that can be applied in conversations and interactions with players.
Encouraging Thoughtful Discussion
One of the strengths of the first session was the level of engagement from the Hurst mentors.
Discussions explored real scenarios from sporting environments, allowing the group to reflect on their own experiences and consider how athletes interpret pressure, feedback and expectations.
Workshops like these are most valuable when they become conversations rather than presentations, and the mentors brought a thoughtful and reflective approach to the session.
Continuing the Series
This workshop is the first in a series of sessions that will take place with Hurstpierpoint College.
Each session will build on the previous discussions, gradually exploring different aspects of how the environments around athletes influence performance and development.
The intention is not to introduce complex psychological models, but to help mentors understand how small interactions can shape an athlete’s experience of sport.
Workshops for Schools, Clubs and Organisations
In addition to this work with Hurstpierpoint College, Cricket Mind Online delivers workshops for schools, clubs and sporting organisations interested in exploring the mental side of sport.
These sessions are designed to support coaches, teachers and mentors who work closely with young athletes.
More information about our workshops can be found here:
