AFL hones in on mental health among clubs with program for players

The AFL is helping local footy clubs place a larger focus on mental health through its new Tackle Your Feelings program

GWS Giants coach Leon Cameron leading a Tackle Your Feelings session.

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Mental health is just as important as physical fitness for many professional athletes.

In particular, the advent of social media has forced professional sporting organisations all over the world to develop mental health programs for their athletes based around building resilience and wellbeing.

However local clubs often lack the support and training necessary to ensure players are mentally fit as well as physically.

The AFL is determined to close that gap through its new Tackle Your Feelings program.

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A joint initiative by the AFL Coaches and Players Associations, Tackle Your Feelings, is a mental health training program that aims to improve local footy clubs’ understanding of mental health by giving coaches free access to simplified training and tools inspired by those used at the professional level.

Last week the GWS Giants hosted a Tackle Your Feelings session led by head coach and program ambassador Leon Cameron.

“The main thing is to be able to understand (mental health) because so many people go in and out of mental health issues,” Cameron said.

“(Coaches shouldn’t) be scared to ask someone how they’re going. With the different age groups we all coach you might have to ask in a different way but don’t be scared.

The Tackle Your Feelings program gives local footy coaches access to mental health support tools inspired by those used at the professional level.

“The more you ask people how they’re going, the better off people are going to feel at ease when talking about the good, bad or otherwise and the things that are going on in their life.

“If you can do that a lot more than what people are doing now then clearly you’re going to have happier people that know they can talk about their feelings and if that is going to help them on weekends or enjoy their sport and have a better life, I see it as a no-brainer.”

Macquarie University Football Club coach Geoff Smith said the program was a vital experience for all coaches, no matter what level they’re coaching at.

Macquarie University Football Club’s coaches were eager to absorb as much as they could from the session.

“We all move through times when we’re struggling to times when we’re thriving and it’s about recognising when we, our teammates or players we coach are going through tough times,” Smith said.

“There’s still this barrier that we’re men and we have to hold up and be strong all the time. I think the conversation is changing a bit, especially though more nights like this.

“It’s good to talk and let your guard down and be vulnerable to take some steps forward.”

For more information, go to tackleyourfeelings.org.au