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Writer's pictureCathrine Finnebraaten

What do you do as an e-sports coach if a player says they are not feeling well.



As a coach, you are in a special position in relation to your athlete.

You are not as close as a parent, but not as distant as another adult.

As a coach, you have a fairly close relationship (or should have anyway) with the athlete, and there should be a high level of trust there.

This means that when you speak and give advice, you are in a position where the athlete listens to what you say in a different way than they listen to others.

It gives you their trus, and it is important to take this trust seriously.

In relation to mental health, it is important to be robust in your role, you must be steady and able to withstand the storms.

So if an athlete comes to you as a coach and says they are struggling, then the probability that they will take your advice is good.

Since athletes already take advice from you to improve their performance, they will be open to advice about other things as well.

So if a athlete comes to you with something difficult, I would listen actively, and motivate the athlete to contact the right personnel.

Our task as coaches is not to treat athletes, you are simply not qualified for that, but we can be someone who listens and supports when things are difficult, and we can help to facilitate that they get the help they need.


Now, everyone who has either needed help, or helped someone who needs help, knows that it is not just about saying you need a psychologist, they are ready for you. At least as over 18, for them there are often long waiting times.

Much longer than what is okay, but you can't do much about that when you're in the situation.

But then you can look at other solutions. There are more practitioners who can help with mental health other than psychologists, who you can go to until you find a psychologist.

First and foremost, you can join the mental health association. They have peers you can talk to.

There are people who are struggling themselves, who can help you with advice that has worked for them.

This is not a healthcare professional, but someone who has walked a mile in the shoes themselves . They have attended courses to become a "likeperson".

There is a psychomotor physiotherapist. This is what Store norske lexikon writes about Psychomotor Physiotherapy: Psychomotor physiotherapy is based on the understanding that the body is an integrated physical, psychological and social phenomenon. The body is understood as a center for experience, knowledge and memory, and emotions can be expressed, regulated and inhibited bodily. Both physical and emotionalstrains, previous illnesses and difficult life situations can therefore have physical effects."

You can also talk to GP.


Children under 18 contact the mental health association, they have a helpline.

There are also a number of helplinesr you can make use of. On this website you will find an overview of all support telephones and chat sites that are available https://psykiskhelse.no/trenger-du-hjelp/hjelpetelefoner-og-nettsteder/

The health nurse at school or at the health center can help.


As a coach, it can be good to know about these services. So if an athlete comes to you and says they are struggling, sit down, listen actively, be present and look at the different solutions together, and maybe even have a meeting with parents.


This is perhaps more than what you are required to do, but I think this is something you should do if you get that trust from an athlete.


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