At the start of a new year, with 2020 having been particularly unusual and upsetting for many, mental wellbeing and mindfulness are subjects that have come to the fore.For athletes looking ahead to one of the biggest years of their career, this is even more important.As part of its recent Athletes Connect Week, the BAC was delighted to welcome former rugby player and mindfulness expert Luke Doherty for a virtual presentation: 'Mindfulness for Performance and Wellbeing.'You can watch Luke's full presentation here, and read his summary of the importance of mindfulness for athletes below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcxC0nVuspw

• The expectation and PRESSURE to maintain peak performance is immense for athletes, who also have to juggle family and other off-field responsibilities. Mindfulness offers clinically-proven mechanisms for coping with stress, anxiety, depression and sleep problems.
• For athletes there are many TRANSITIONS to navigate: through different academy levels, professional contracts, transfers to new teams or even new countries, and eventually into retirement. Mindfulness promotes resilience, composure and clarity and the big career junctions.
• Athletes can face many CRISES such as injuries, conflict, deselection and other career setbacks. Mindfulness provides helpful responses to difficult times, aids team cohesion, helps to maintain players' motivation and self-confidence and aids rehabilitation from injury.
• Successful athletes need to develop an elite MINDSET. Mindfulness enhances emotional psychological resilience, strengthens awareness, focus and motivation, and promotes mental wellbeing. It nurtures maturity, self-awareness and a tough mind, both on and off the pitch.

MINDPRO is the go-to mindfulness app to help athletes to enhance their performance and wellbeing. Developed with elite athletes themselves, short and powerful mindfulness content supports training regimes, performance, recovery and homelife. To download and start using MINDPRO for free, click here (Apple/IoS users) or here (Android users). Password: mindproLuke's presentation was one of a selection hosted by the BAC during Athletes Connect Week. If you would like to see a focus on another area which you believe would benefit athletes, then please contact the BAC’s Athlete Engagement Manager, Kristian Thomas, at kristian.thomas@britisheliteathletes.org.