A PATH TO FOLLOW
Sporting Peer Support
prevention
Early intervention
personalised support
Sporting Peer Support in Melbourne
The Sporting Peer Support Program at A Path to Follow offers a specialised service that assists sport and recreational settings in establishing and maintaining a peer model to enhance the coaching, leadership, and life skills of participants. Guided by A Path To Follow and Senior Leaders/Coaches Junior members acquire valuable skills for coaching and life through active participation in team/group activities.
The Sport Peer Support program at A Path to Follow is a specialized service that supports sport and recreational settings in establishing and sustaining a peer model to enhance coaching and life skills of participants. Our program focuses on the Junior Coaches, aged 11-12 years, and their engagement with a team for a season and beyond. Under the guidance of a Senior Club Coach, these Junior Coaches learn valuable skills for coaching and life through active involvement in team trainings and game day roles.
The Sporting Peer Support program caters to junior sports and recreational settings aiming to prioritize the well-being development of their members alongside their physical or sporting abilities. While young members benefit from honing newly acquired coaching and life skills, the settings also benefit by implementing a coaching model that is more sustainable than most current approaches and aligns with the philosophy of the member setting. The sporting peer program is executed with the full support of specialised Peer Leaders from A Path To Follow, in collaboration with the existing leaders of the recreational settings.
Mental Well-being and Community Connection: The Sporting Peer Support program keeps young members connected to a safe and supportive community, contributing to preventing and addressing mental well-being challenges early. By nurturing a sense of belonging and connection through sports, participants build a support network that enhances their overall well-being.
Personal Skill Development: Through their involvement in the program, young members, and leaders within the settings, cultivate essential personal skills crucial for their roles in recreational settings and in life. These skills encompass effective communication, leadership, teamwork, time management, and problem-solving. The program offers a platform for personal growth and skill enhancement in the context of sports and recreation.
Mentorship and Leadership Development: The Sporting Peer Support program aids existing coaches and leaders within sports settings in mentoring younger club members. This mentorship process not only fosters coaching skills but also imparts valuable life skills to the younger participants. It establishes a sustainable model of leadership within sports settings, fostering the advancement and nurturing of future coaches and leaders.
Ormond Football Club
Sporting Peer Support Journey
Identification of Problem or Gap
You, as a recreational and/or sporting club setting or a provider who supports such settings, identify areas within your functioning related to mental well-being that require improvement or development.
You reach out to A Path to Follow to express your interest in the Sport Peer Support program and explore how it can address your specific needs and objectives. For example: You might have a gap in sustaining a future coaching model, where we support you to recruit and develop a holistic Sporting Peer Program with your Junior members as Junior Coaches. You may have identified particular wellbeing challenges common to your members/workforce where education is required or ongoing leadership challenges where consultation to develop and create a model that looks toward a sustainable future with a holistic lens.
Assessment of Appropriateness
A Path to Follow evaluates your inquiry to determine if the Sport Peer Support program is suitable to assist in meeting your identified needs. This assessment considers factors such as alignment of goals, available resources, and compatibility with the program's objectives. This is completed in a way most preferred by the inquiring setting.
Provision of Quote and Service Outline
If deemed appropriate, A Path to Follow provides you with a quote and outlines the services that will be provided as part of the Sport Peer Support program. This includes details about the duration, activities, peer structure, and expected outcomes.
Service Delivery
Once you agree upon the quote and service outline, A Path to Follow proceeds to provide the agreed program to your setting. This could include implementing a sporting peer program model, facilitating training sessions, and/or providing ongoing support to ensure the successful development of leadership, coaching and life skills within the sporting context.
Sporting Peer Support Program Testimonials
"I really enjoyed my second year in the Mentor Program, as a junior coach with the Auskick kids. I learnt how it’s important to connect with kids on a personal level. For example, knowing what footy teams they go for and some of their favourite players. This helped to get them to listen and stay enthusiastic."
"The mentor program keeps kids engaged with their communities and provides a great opportunity for kids to learn some essential life skills whilst participating in an activity they love. He is excited to participate again next season!”
“This role helped me to stay involved in the game when I was prepared to walk away”