Five Reasons Why Sports are the Perfect Platform for Mentoring

By: MENTOR

Physical Fitness and Mental Health

Staying active helps promote increased health and wellness throughout all stages of life. As the school year winds down and summer approaches, we’re sharing stories about how positive mentoring relationships support a healthy lifestyle through physical activity. This post recognizes the important work done by our partner The First Tee, and the influence coaches can have on the lives of young people. 

A good coach helps youth succeed on the field, the court or the course. A great coach helps youth succeed in life.

At The First Tee, we believe all young people should have access to safe places and caring adult mentors who help them grow socially, athletically, emotionally and academically. Coaches have a unique opportunity to teach youth valuable life skills, like how to set goals and introduce yourself to someone new, using sports as a platform.

Mentoring through sports can help young people develop character because just like in life, athletes experience the highs and lows of the game.

Our coaches are trained to inspire participants to apply the skills they learn on the golf course in real life by…

1. Empowering youth to make healthy choices and improve physical fitness. Physical activity helps develop healthy bones, joints, muscles and fend off obesity. Coaches have the opportunity to emphasize making healthy choices in life by following habits like eating well, getting enough sleep and exercising.

2. Encouraging youth to take ownership in their learning. Coaches should help youth seek challenging tasks and push themselves to develop new skills. The goal is for young people to become their own best coach – whether on the course, at school, at home or in life.

3. Helping young people develop life skills. Setting attainable goals, overcoming challenges, learning techniques to manage thoughts and emotions – these are skills youth can learn through sports, but more importantly, can apply to other areas of life.

4. Helping young people develop core values. Our coaches guide youth to understand and develop The First Tee Nine Core Values: honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment.

5. Strengthening interpersonal skills and peer relationships. Being involved in sports can help build a young person’s self-confidence and social interactions. Coaches can model and encourage youth to appreciate diversity and show respect to oneself, playing partners and fellow competitors.

About The First Tee

The First Tee (www.thefirsttee.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization whose mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. With its home office at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., The First Tee reaches young people on golf courses, in elementary schools and at other youth-serving locations.

Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has grown its network to deliver programs in all 50 United States and select international locations. In 2015, The First Tee brought character education through the game of golf to more than 4.7 million young people. The First Tee’s Founding Partners are LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the USGA. Shell Oil Company is The First Tee’s Founding Corporate Partner and Johnson & Johnson is its Legacy Partner. Former President George W. Bush serves as honorary chair.