The Australian Football League (AFL) have partnered with Optimize Mind Performance (OMP), to assist the next generation of elite Australian Rules Football players to refine their mental wellbeing skills.
Performance pressure has been identified as a key contributing factor to mental health challenges in young athletes, and building strong mental performance skills is a preventative measure against future mental health concerns and can assist young footballers with the transition both into and out of the elite system.
The digital platform created by OMP will allow the AFL Mental Health and Wellbeing Team to provide ongoing support to the most elite junior footballers in the country, through the AFL National Academy program.
The AFL recently announced the 2027 National Academy squads for boys and girls, each featuring 25 players who will be eligible for the 2027 Telstra AFL and AFLW Draft.
AFL Head of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Dr Kate Hall said:
“This partnership will create opportunities for our National Academy players to further develop their mental skills, with access to mental performance content that complements their football development opportunities” Dr Hall said.
“We want to build players’ capability to navigate the demands of the elite game through
mental performance strategies, from managing pressure to maintaining focus and
responding to challenges.
“Developing these skills early is an important part of supporting their growth as people and players and preparing them for the next stage of their development.
Optimize Mind Performance CEO & Founder Jack Preddey said:
"We are delighted to partner with the AFL and provide their team with a platform that can further enhance their delivery of mental skills training to the next generation of AFL and AFLW stars."
