Build The Player, Support The Person

Three modules into our ProWell Athlete Development Programme and the progress from our UNIPRO student-athletes has been exceptional.

From day one, the aim of ProWell has been clear: To build the player and support the person. Empowering student-athletes to understand themselves, manage their wellbeing, and perform with purpose on and off the pitch. The past few months have shown exactly why this matters.

🟩 Beginning with the foundations of wellbeing – Module 1:

Exploring who our athletes are beyond football, their strengths, values, motivations, and the identity that shapes how they show up every day. From there, we introduced meaningful goal-setting, using the SMART framework to break big ambitions into clear, confident steps. Athletes mapped out their support networks and built personal roadmaps, connecting their self-awareness with practical actions they can take throughout the season. This session set the tone: strong performance starts with strong self-understanding.

🟩 Shifting the focus to physical wellbeing and peak performance – Module 2:

Digging into the science behind fuelling the body. From nutrition, hydration, and what “eating like an athlete” really looks like to football-specific strength and conditioning, injury-prevention habits, and how training loads should be managed in a high-performance environment. One of the biggest eye-openers was the importance of rest and recovery and why sleep often determines long-term progress. This module helped players see that elite performance is built on daily habits, not occasional effort.

🟩 Moving into mental wellbeing and resilience – Module 3:

We tackled the difference between mental health and mental illness, giving athletes the language and confidence to talk about both. We explored strategies for coping with pressure, setbacks, and the emotional demands of being a student and athlete. Mindfulness, meditation, and positive self-talk became practical tools not abstract concepts. We also discussed digital wellbeing, the impact of social media on athlete identity, and how to manage online environments in a healthy way. The session closed with an introduction to Mental Health First Aid, helping athletes understand how to support others while recognising when professional help is needed.

A huge thank you to Ana Lameiras from creative minds consultancy for joining Module 3 as our guest speaker. Ana’s expertise as a Mental & Performance Coach, and lived experience gave our athletes a powerful perspective that will stay with them far beyond the classroom.