The ROI of Sports Mentoring

Unlock the potential of sports mentoring and discover the return on investment for athletic associations, agencies and sporting groups.

The Impact of Sports Mentoring on Athletes

The business case for sports mentoring is clear.

• Personal and Professional Growth: Extensive research showcases the significant impact of mentoring on athletes, coaches, sport personnel, and leaders. Regardless of career stage, mentoring offers personal and professional benefits.

• Navigating Challenges: For aspiring athletes and coaches, mentoring provides essential clarity and confidence. Retiring athletes find invaluable support as they transition to professional careers.

• Source of Support: Mentoring offers informational, emotional, social, professional, and career support for athletes at every level.

• Guidance from Experience: Athletes gain invaluable insights and guidance from mentors who have achieved success in their respective fields, helping them overcome challenges and excel in their sport.

• Fostering a Supportive Environment: Mentoring fosters a sense of belonging and creates a supportive relationship where athletes can seek advice, express concerns, and learn from their mentor's experiences.

• Character Development: Mentors serve as role models, instilling important values such as discipline, perseverance, teamwork, and sportsmanship, contributing to athletes' success both on and off the field.

Athlete benefits:

• Increased athlete performance and confidence 
• Increased self reflection
• Broken down racial barriers and impactful life lessons
• Willingness for mentees to 'pay it forward' and provide mentorship to their peers
• Facilitated successful career transitions

Coach benefits

• Increased efficacy
• Increased identity, confidence and competence
• Increased visibility and exposure
• Increased career advancement (mentoring ranked as the most important career development factor for expert coaches)

Sports students

• Sense of community and belonging
• Increased motivation
• Clarity on what career pathway to pursue
• Health and life skills (particularly for young students)
• Enhanced experience of research endeavours, scholarly writing and scientific publication, networking support, improved student retention, timely completion of the project, and career readiness

Sporting staff/officials

• Increased learning, confidence and decreased stress
• Increased retention

Sport leaders:

• Increased career advancement
• Increased gender equity
• Increased leadership skills

Measuring the ROI of Sports Mentoring Programs

Effective evaluation of mentoring programs involves tracking both quantitative and qualitative measures. This includes improvements in athletic performance, participation rates, and feedback from stakeholders.

Mentoring technology platforms, such as Brancher, offer comprehensive tracking metrics including:

• Participant engagement and satisfaction
• Goal achievement and progress tracking
• Mentor-mentee matching effectiveness
• Program impact on team or organisational goals

This information can then be used to make data-driven decisions, demonstrate the effectiveness of the program to stakeholders, and secure continued support and investment.

Implementing a Successful Sports Mentoring Program

Implementing a successful sports mentoring program requires strategic planning and execution. Here are key steps to ensure effectiveness:

1. Clear Objectives: Define clear objectives and goals for the program to guide activities and participant selection.

2. Structured Framework: Establish roles, communication channels, and mentor-mentee matching processes to ensure clarity and consistency.

3. Training and Support: Provide workshops and resources for mentors and mentees to develop effective mentoring skills and address challenges.

4. Evaluation and Feedback: Monitor program metrics and gather participant feedback to continuously improve the program.

5. Technology Solutions: Utilise mentoring platforms like Brancher to streamline administrative tasks and enhance participant engagement.

6. Promotion and Awareness: Promote the program through various channels to attract diverse participants and expand its reach.

Following these steps will help organisations create a successful sports mentoring program that empowers participants and fosters growth within the sporting community.

The image below is a screenshot from researchers that built and evaluated a six step process for athletes and coaches, published in the International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching (2019). Brancher follows a similar approach aligned to this framework.

Technology Solutions for Effective Sports Mentoring

Technology plays a crucial role in enhancing mentoring programs. Brancher offers both tech and non-tech solutions tailored to the needs and preferences of mentors and mentees, ensuring a seamless mentoring experience.

Request a Brancher mentoring software demo today.

Sources:

Alexander, D., & Bloom, G. A. (2023). Exploring coaches' experiences and perceptions of a virtual parasport coach mentorship program. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 64, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2022.102303

Banwell, J., Stirling, A., & Kerr, G. (2019). Towards a process for advancing women in coaching through mentorship. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 0(0), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747954119883108

Bloom, G., Durand-Bush, N., Schinke, R. J., & Salmela, J. H. (1998). The importance of mentoring in the development of coaches and athletes. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 29, 267–281.

Clark, B. S., Bruening, J. E., & Madsen, R. M. (2013). Mentoring identity of female student-athletes: A study of service with urban youth using sport and physical activity. International Journal of Sport Management, 14(2), 147–174.

Cleary, M., Thapa, D. K., West, S., Lopez, V., Williamson, M., Sahay, A., & Kornhaber, R. (2023). Mentoring students in doctoral nursing programs: A scoping review. Journal of Professional Nursing, 45, 71-88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2023.01.010

Cosentino, A., Weese, W. J., & Wells, J. E. (2021). Strategies to advance women: Career insights from senior leadership women in professional sport in Canada. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 3(2021), Article 716505. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.716505