Case study: What are the effects of the True Athlete Project’s holistic mentoring approach on athletes’ awareness of self, sport and society?

Abstract

This is a case study of The True Athlete Project’s (TAP) holistic mentoring approach and its effects on athletes’ awareness of self, sport and society. TAP uses in their mentoring program their own unique curriculum, which is utilized in mentoring of young, upcoming athletes. The subject group of 9 mentee/mentor pairs 2018-19 was the first group that used the TAP mentoring curriculum in the mentoring program, with its 5 modules: Performance, Identity and Values, Mindfulness, Community and Responsibility, and Nature and Connectedness.

The objective was to get information about the mentoring program from mentees and mentors’ perspective, gather feedback about the program, how mentors viewed mentoring with curriculum and benefits of the program for both mentees and mentors. Also, the case study aimed to answer: Do mentees perceive their approach to sport healthier/more positive after one year of mentoring, how do mentees and mentors perceive their role as athlete role models, and measure mentees mindfulness and awareness development.

It was decided to use surveys to get mentees and mentors perception of the mentoring program. Separate post-mentoring surveys were created for mentees and mentors. Additionally, mentees repeated their pre-mentoring surveys in mindfulness and awareness to measure their mindfulness and awareness development during the mentoring year.

This case study was commissioned by TAP leadership group in December 2018. The mentees and mentors were informed about the case study between December 2018 and March 2019 depending when their mentoring year ended. All participants answered to the surveys between December 2018 and March 24th, 2019.

Mentees perceived mentoring to have positive effects to their lives. On average Mentees increased their Mindfulness scores in surveys: FMI by 14%, Mindfulness Inventory for Sport increase in awareness- by 15%, non-judgemental- by 9%, and refocus-subscale by 13%. Additionally, mentees increased by 19% their TAP awareness score. Both mentees and mentors reported TAP mentoring being beneficial for personal, professional and athletic development. Also, mentors perceived that mentoring program and curriculum supported mentees’ holistic development. Both mentees and mentors noted increased awareness as athlete role models. Both wanted to set an example by; promoting their sports, active and healthy living, support and motivate others in their sport. Also, Mentees reported willingness to mentor others and mentors reported willingness to continue mentoring.

TAP mentoring program has a potential to promote healthier/more positive approach to sport. The mentoring program has multiple benefits to mentees and mentors personal, professional and athletic development. Also, the program increases athletes' awareness of the role model position and willingness to be positive role model in sport/local communities.