Remodeling Sports to Transform Lives
Event Date: FEBRUARY 21-28, 2025
An Example of a Social Emotional Learning Curriculum for High School Sports Teams” is a comprehensive curriculum designed to integrate social-emotional learning (SEL) into high school athletics. Developed by GetPsychedSports.org, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit dedicated to advancing a model of high school and youth sports teams where facilitating coaches intentionally and explicitly teach empowered students SEL and sport psychology skills within a positive, safe, supportive student-centric framework,
Get Psyched Sports the curriculum aims to combat issues like abuse and toxic cultures in sports by providing coaches, students, and parents with practical tools and strategies.
The 91-page curriculum is structured around six core principles:
- Creating a Positive Environment: Emphasizes the importance of fostering a supportive and inclusive team culture.
- Promoting Motivation and Effort: Focuses on strategies to enhance athletes’ intrinsic motivation and sustained effort.
- Maintaining Focus: Offers techniques to improve concentration and mental resilience during performance.
- Managing Pressure and Stress: Provides methods to help athletes cope with competitive stressors effectively.
- Committed Goal Pursuit: Guides athletes in setting and committing to personal and team goals.
- Promoting Anti-Racism, Anti-Sexism, and Anti-Homophobia: Addresses the need for equity and respect within sports environments.
Each principle includes suggested practices, research insights, and resources for integrating SEL competencies into team settings. The curriculum is available for free download, making it accessible to a wide audience interested in transforming sports experiences for young athletes.
The initiative has garnered positive feedback from educators and sports professionals. Dr. Maurice J. Elias, Co-Director of the Academy for SEL in Schools and Co-Founder of SEL4US, stated, “The authors articulate a new vision for how to transform the way sports transforms lives… This curriculum should be required reading for all teachers, coaches, and students involved with high school sports and preparing our young people for the tests of life.”
By integrating this curriculum, schools and sports programs can proactively address the social and emotional development of student-athletes, fostering environments where they can thrive both on and off the field.