Building Resilient And Well-Rounded Athletes

In today's fast-paced world, fostering the development of young athletes has become more intricate and demanding than ever before. As a parent, coach, or mentor, understanding the dynamics of raising an elite athlete is crucial. In a recent episode of the "Distracted" podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Josh Hall, the high-performance lead with the Gold Coast Suns Academy, an academy for emerging athletes for Australian Rules Football (AFL) . Josh shared his own journey as an athlete and valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of nurturing young athletes through his role.

With a background in multiple sports, including AFL and rugby league, and as a national high jumper, Josh brings a wealth of experience to his role. Growing up in central Queensland, Josh's early years were filled with sports, driven by a natural competitiveness and a supportive family environment. His parents' willingness to travel long distances for games and training sessions was not seen as a sacrifice but an investment in their children's futures.

The role of family support cannot be overstated. Josh's family made significant lifestyle changes, including moving towns to support their children's sporting aspirations. This level of commitment and support provided a stable foundation for Josh and his siblings to thrive not just in sport but all areas of his development. 

I can remember as a child my parents taking me to many sporting events with the family piled into the car, spending weekends at various sporting venues. It was a highlight of my childhood.

For Josh he has seen a big difference in how young athletes of today are nurtured and exposed to opportunities in a more holistic way than when he was a young athlete. However what remains the same is the importance of mindset and maintaining focus on personal goals. 

In today's digital age, young athletes face unique challenges, including the pervasive influence of social media. Unlike in the past, where distractions were minimal, today's athletes must navigate a world filled with constant online stimuli. This requires a strong mindset and the ability to focus on one's goals despite the noise.

Social media presents both opportunities and challenges. While it can be a valuable tool for research and learning, it also exposes young athletes to negative feedback and unrealistic expectations. Josh's approach as well as that of the Suns Academy involves educating athletes on how to use social media responsibly and encouraging them to seek out reliable information particularly when it comes to their health and training. Rather than seeking out opinion from uneducated and inexperienced peers, using the resources and support in the academy to help guide them. In addition to this, fostering a mindset of self-directed learning, athletes can better understand the rationale behind their training and performance strategies.

In his role at the Gold Coast Suns Academy, Josh now mentors young athletes, helping them navigate the complexities of elite sports including the major challenges in balancing the demands of multiple sports and managing the physical and mental loads on young athletes. Ensuring that young athletes are not overtraining and have other areas in their lives such as schooling, family involvement and friendships in addition to their sport help them become well-rounded individuals.

Josh's overarching goal is to develop well-rounded individuals, not just athletes. The academy's vision of growing people, not just players, underscores the importance of life skills, resilience, and character development. This holistic approach ensures that even if an athlete doesn't make it to the professional level, they are equipped with the skills and mindset needed to succeed in other areas of life.

As we wrapped up our conversation, Josh shared a powerful lesson he learned early in his career: the importance of controlling what you can control. This mindset has been instrumental in his success and is something he imparts to the young athletes he mentors. By focusing on their own actions and decisions, athletes can navigate the uncertainties of their careers with confidence.

From our conversation I not only took the importance of surrounding athletes with the support they need but how important this too is for adults when juggling the demands of life. Ensuring a balance of support, education, fostering a positive mindset and not taking on more than we can will ensure we have the physical and mental resilience to take us through our lives. 

Listen to the full episode at Distracted. Building resilient and well-rounded athletes.