When we talk about success in sport, we usually think of physical fitness, technique, and tactics. But what happens when an athlete who is in peak physical condition simply cannot perform at their best? Petra Rajkovi\u0107 Vuleti\u0107, a coach with experience working with young athletes, shared her thoughts on the role of mental health in sport \u2014 and why coaches must be part of that conversation and how Mindfit project helped her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor me, mental health in sport is just as important as physical preparation, maybe even more so,\u201d<\/em> says Petra at the start of the interview. \u201cAn athlete can be in perfect physical shape, but if their mind is full of worries, fear of making mistakes, or they are under great pressure \u2014 they won\u2019t give their maximum on the field.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n According to her experience, mental health means that an athlete has the capacity to deal with losses, recover from pressure, and stay motivated in the long term. Without that, Petra says, \u201cyou will lose your athlete in the long run.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n When asked whether sports organisations currently attach equal importance to mental well-being as they do to physical performance, Petra was direct: \u201cThere is honestly no progress in any way visible. Because of that Mindfit was an innovative approach because included missing topics\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n While there is increasing talk of psychological support at the highest levels of sport, at club level \u2014 where most coaches work \u2014 mental health only becomes a topic when something has already gone wrong. \u201cMental health still comes only when something has already happened \u2014 when an athlete breaks down or leaves,\u201d<\/em> Petra explains. \u201cThere is almost no stand-alone and preventive approach. We focus more on physical injuries, but on mental health we do not have any approach or tools.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Petra believes the biggest obstacle to open conversation about mental health is the culture within sport itself \u2014 a silent norm that dictates that a coach must be strong, that problems are solved through work alone, and that showing vulnerability means weakness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe stigma exists among athletes and us coaches,\u201d<\/em> she emphasises. \u201cI worry about it sounding unconvincing or wrong, or somehow doing more harm than good.\u201d<\/em> Even when she wants to help, Petra admits to feeling unsure of her own competencies: \u201cI am not educated for that. I don\u2019t always know how to open that conversation, what to ask and what not to ask \u2014 and when I can actually do it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the challenges, Petra has found ways to incorporate mental health care into her everyday coaching practice. \u201cIt will never be a priority that takes up the whole training session, but thirty minutes at the end, or even a minute or two, five minutes after training for some individual conversation \u2014 that\u2019s something I can do, because of that Mindfit is very good.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Her approach is discreet and empathetic: \u201cWhen I notice something, I talk quietly without a group, asking if everything is okay, if they need someone to talk to.\u201d<\/em> This, she says, gives athletes permission not to pretend that everything is fine if it is not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Petra pays particular attention to warning signs in younger athletes \u2014 increased irritability, excuses, changes in their communication, a player who makes a mistake and runs away from their teammates rather than staying with them. \u201cA lot passes by me that I don\u2019t see clearly now, but through the conversation I start to see more clearly.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Petra is clear about what she lacks: concrete materials and tools tailored to the sports context. \u201cI have almost no materials. Nothing is served to me,\u201d<\/em> she says. Rather than general exercises in psychology, Petra would like content that addresses specific scenarios and situations that happen in sports \u2014 how to react when a player makes a mistake, how to build resilience in a team, how to recognise when an athlete is struggling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Format matters too: \u201cShort videos, something simple, visually appealing and tailored \u2014 especially for the younger generations.\u201d<\/em> Such modules would facilitate general mental health care without requiring any special preparation, making them more accessible than going to a psychologist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat would actually facilitate the implementation of those thirty minutes,\u201d<\/em> Petra concludes, hopeful that projects like MINDFit will help bridge the gap between need and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Three key messages emerge clearly from the conversation with Petra for all coaches who want to support the mental health of their athletes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Resilience doesn\u2019t come from gritting your teeth \u2014 it comes from a sense of safety, support, and the ability for athletes to be honest about how they feel. Coaches don\u2019t need to be psychologists, but they can create an environment where athletes feel comfortable seeking help. And finally, even small steps \u2014 brief conversations, attention to changes in behaviour, simple tools \u2014 can make a huge difference.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When we talk about success in sport, we usually think of physical fitness, technique, and tactics. But what happens when an athlete who is in peak physical condition simply cannot perform at their best? Petra Rajkovi\u0107 Vuleti\u0107, a coach with experience working with young athletes, shared her thoughts on the role of mental health in … <\/p>\nSports Organisations Still Don\u2019t Give Equal Importance to Mental Well-Being<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Biggest Obstacle: A Culture of Silence and Stigma<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Practical Approach: Small Steps with a Big Impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Would Actually Help Coaches?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Key Messages for Coaches<\/h2>\n\n\n\n