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A mental health training program that empowers coaches to recognize warning signs, start conversations, and connect student-athletes with help.
You see your players in ways no one else does. That puts you in a unique position to notice when something's wrong—and to do something about it.
You watch them compete, struggle, win, and lose. You're there for the early morning workouts and the late-night bus rides. You notice the subtle shifts in energy, focus, and body language that parents, teachers, and friends might never catch.
Athletes often confide in coaches before anyone else—before parents, before teachers, before counselors. That trust isn't something you have to build from scratch. It's already there, earned through every practice, every game, every conversation.
You've spent years reading body language, sensing motivation, and understanding team dynamics. You know when someone's off their game—even if they're hiding it. Those same instincts that make you a great coach can help you spot a player who's struggling off the field.
"You don't need to be a therapist. You don't need to have all the answers. You just need to notice, listen, and connect them to help."
You don't need clinical training to notice when something's off. Pay attention to changes in these three areas.
Expressing that they're a burden to the team or family
A senior suddenly handing off gear to younger players without explanation
Goodbyes that feel final, or jokes about death that don't land like jokes
Seeming "fine" too quickly after a major loss or setback
Phrases like "What's the point?" or "It doesn't matter anymore"
When you hear these words, it's time to have a conversation
Organized into three tiers: foundational skills, situation-specific guidance, and long-term sustainability. Each module is 2–3 minutes.
Core knowledge and skills every coach needs
Understand the unique trust position coaches hold with student-athletes and why this creates both opportunity and responsibility.
Identify behavioral changes in student-athletes that may indicate mental health struggles or suicide risk using the Three Areas to Watch framework.
Learn how to approach a player you're concerned about in a way that opens dialogue—and what phrases to avoid that shut it down.
Connect athletes with the CMCL Resource Line and professional support services. Learn the exact steps to bridge them to help.
Understand the boundaries between coaching support and professional mental health care. Know when to hand off and why it helps.
Guidance for specific scenarios coaches encounter
What to do in the critical moments when a player says "I want to kill myself" or discloses suicidal thoughts directly to you.
Support players experiencing grief from death, divorce, breakups, or other significant losses. Presence matters more than words.
Recognize when academic stress becomes a mental health concern. Separate eligibility rules from the person in front of you.
Support players whose sense of identity is challenged by injury—when "who they are" feels tied to what they can no longer do.
Recognize substance use as a potential warning sign of deeper issues. Respond with curiosity, not accusation.
Understand how online pressures, cyberbullying, and digital self-harm affect athlete mental health and when intervention is needed.
Support players navigating major life changes: transfers, freshman adjustment, NIL pressures, or life after sport ends.
Long-term success, coach wellbeing, and program culture
Recognize the emotional toll of supporting struggling athletes. You can't pour from an empty cup—learn to refill yours.
Create proactive team culture that reduces isolation, normalizes help-seeking, and catches struggles before they become crises.
Partner effectively with families when concerns arise. Build communication channels before crisis hits—not during it.
You don't need to diagnose anything. You don't need to have all the answers. You just need to notice and then act on what you see.
24/7 support for coaches and student-athletes. Professional guidance when you need it most.
Complete all 15 training modules and pass the assessment to earn your official CMCL certification. Show your commitment to supporting student-athlete mental health.