Sporting clubs play an important role in supporting physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Recent research and guidelines highlight structured, actionable ways that clubs can create healthier and more supportive environments.

• Provide mental health literacy training for coaches, volunteers, and club leaders.
• Train Coaches & Club Leaders in Wellbeing-Supportive Practices
  • Coaches are often the most frequent adult contact for young players, so equipping them with wellbeing skills is critical.
• Use awareness campaigns and regular conversations to normalise discussions about wellbeing. 

• Establishmental health support pathways, including:
  • Steps for responding to mental health emergencies
  • Appointing a designated Wellbeing Officer at the club
• Provide clear information about helplines, local services, and referral processes.

• Foster a culture built on support, inclusion, and psychological safety.
• Encourage diversity and ensure equity for women & girls, culturally diverse groups, LGBTI+ participants, people with disability, and older adults.
• Promote belonging through team bonding, mentoring, and volunteer recognition.
• Leaders should model healthy behaviour, uphold inclusive values, and respond appropriately to wellbeing concerns.

• Adopt frameworks such as:
  • Healthy Sports Clubs (Monash Health) – focusing on food environments, alcohol & drug safety, smoke/vape-free policies, inclusion, mental wellness, sun safety and injury prevention.
  • WHO Health‑Promoting Sports Club Model – providing tools to assess environments, develop health strategies, and integrate health promotion into operations.
  • Orygen - A four-part suite of resources designed to help sporting organisations support the mental wellbeing of young people aged 12-24 years. It includes a:
    • toolkit: containing eight actions, this toolkit aims to provide sporting organisations with a clear framework and some practical tools to ensure that they are supporting young peoples’ mental health and wellbeing
    • checklist: once you have read the toolkit, use the checklist to tick off the ways your club can provide a safe and inclusive 
      environment for players
    • guide: a practical guide to identifying and helping young people with signs of mental ill-health
    • video: a discussion featuring a young person, coach and research expert on how to have conversations about mental health in community sport.
  • Read the Play - Mentally Healthy Sporting Club Guidelines. 
• These frameworks emphasise integrating wellbeing into every part of club life—from committee policy to canteen choices.

• Use youth-friendly resources and toolkits to:
  • Identify signs of mental ill-health
  • Foster resilience
  • Encourage participation
  • Provide safe avenues for speaking up

• A wellbeing-focused club also promotes:
  • Healthy eating options
  • Smoke‑free and vape‑free environments
  • Safe alcohol management
  • Sun safety and injury prevention protocols

• Communicate regularly with members, families, and volunteers.
  • Use newsletters, messaging platforms, noticeboards.
  • Promote wellbeing events, training, and support resources.

• Use observational tools and checklists to review:
  • Safety
  • Inclusivity
  • Mental health supports
  • Facility health standards