Unlock the potential of sports mentoring and discover the return on investment for athletic associations, agencies and sporting groups.
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:
Coach benefits
Sports students
Sporting staff/officials
Sport leaders:
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:
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 requires strategic planning and execution. Here are key steps to ensure effectiveness:
Clear Objectives: Define clear objectives and goals for the program to guide activities and participant selection.
Structured Framework: Establish roles, communication channels, and mentor-mentee matching processes to ensure clarity and consistency.
Training and Support: Provide workshops and resources for mentors and mentees to develop effective mentoring skills and address challenges.
Evaluation and Feedback: Monitor program metrics and gather participant feedback to continuously improve the program.
Technology Solutions: Utilise mentoring platforms like Brancher to streamline administrative tasks and enhance participant engagement.
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 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.
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
Fraina, M., & Hodge, S. R. (2020). Mentoring relationships among athletes, coaches, and athletic administrators: A literature review. Journal for the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education, 14(2), 140-164. https://doi.org/10.1080/19357397.2020.1768033
Hallmann, K., Breuer, C., Ilgner, M., & Rossi, L. (2019). Preparing elite athletes for the career after the career: The functions of mentoring programmes. Sport in Society. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2019.1613
Hoffmann, M. D., Loughead, T. M., & Bloom, G. A. (2017). Examining The Experiences of Peer Mentored Athletes Competing in Elite Sport. The Sport Psychologist, 31(2), 134-146. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2016-0052
Koh, K. T., Bloom, G. A., Fairhurst, K. E., Paiement, D. M., & Kee, Y. H. (2014). An investigation of a formalized mentoring program for novice basketball coaches. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 45(1), 11–32.
Picariello, M., Angelle, P. S., Trendafilova, S., Waller, S., & Ziakas, V. (2023). The role of mentoring in leadership development: A qualitative study of upper administration women in the National Basketball Association. Journal of Global Sport Management, 8(1), 386-406. https://doi.org/10.1080/24704067.2021.1871859
Sing, S. M., Pike, A. M., Coleman, K. A., Myers, S. L., Barrett, J., Belval, L. N., Rush, J. L., & Katch, R. K. (2019). Doctoral education in athletic training: Pursuit of the degree and its influence on career aspirations. Athletic Training Education Journal, 14(2), 99–107. https://doi.org/10.4085/140299
Titlebaum, P. J., Haberlin, N., & Titlebaum, G. (2009). Recruitment and retention of sports officials. Health and Sport Science Faculty Publications, 2. Retrieved from https://ecommons.udayton.edu/hss_fac_pub/2
Walker, S. E., Singe, S. M., & Cavallario, J. M. (2021). The role mentoring plays in the transition to practice of newly credentialed athletic trainers. Journal of Athletic Training, 56(3), 227–233. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0242.20