Mental Health Challenges Training Course

Welcome to Coaching Children with Mental Health Challenges training for NYSCA coaches. This program is designed to provide you with valuable information on coaching young athletes who might have a mental health challenge, as it affects participants in all sports, and at all levels.

This training is broken down into several sections, including:

This program also provides coaches with information on the following mental illnesses and psychological issues: anxiety disorders, Asperger’s syndrome, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Tourette syndrome and more.

Some of the sections feature video clips with Dr. Jill Ehrenreich-May, Director of the Child and Adolescent Mood and Anxiety Treatment Program at the University of Miami (Fla.); and Dr. Kirk Dougher, Director of Counseling and Psychological Services at Florida Atlantic University, sharing their expertise and insight on these conditions.

Throughout the training you’ll find multiple choice questions to test how well you understand the material. Once you correctly answer all of the questions you can print out a certificate recognizing that you have completed this additional Coaching Children with Mental Health Challenges training. After completing this training if you are interested in further information regarding mental health challenges, visit the additional resources link to find handy printouts and access to supplementary mental health challenges websites such as the Autism Society of America, Center for Parent Information and Resources, National Institute of Mental Health and the National Alliance on Mental Health.

The National Alliance for Youth Sports applauds you for taking the time to complete this supplemental NYSCA Coaching Children with Mental Health Challenges training to help the players under your care. With that in mind, let's begin.