PLAYWELL YOUTH PERFORMANCE & WELLNESS

At Mind Management Institute, we believe every child who moves is an athlete, whether they play on a team, at recess, or not yet at all. PlayWell is a free eight-week program that teaches youth ages 6 to 14 the mental and emotional skills behind performance: confidence, focus, staying calm under pressure, bouncing back from mistakes, and showing up for each other. Kids learn each skill through movement and play, then talk about where else in life they can use it. MMI believes in the power of mental healthiness, and PlayWell gives young people the tools to build it early.

Goals and Objectives

Teach youth practical skills for confidence, focus, emotional regulation and mistake recovery through movement and play
Help youth carry those skills into school, home and friendships, and build healthy habits around sleep, water, fuel and rest
Connect families to support, resources and access to mental health services when a child needs more

Sport can teach life skills, but research shows those skills grow best when they are taught on purpose instead of left to chance (Gould & Carson, 2008). Skills are also more likely to carry over into school and home when young people talk directly about where else they can use them (Pierce, Gould, & Camiré, 2017). That is why every PlayWell session ends with the same question: "Where else in your life could you use this?" Our facilitators praise the skill, not the scoreboard. That means no public rankings, no exercise as punishment, and sharing is always optional.

The Five Pillars of the Whole Athlete

Mental Performance: confidence, focus, imagery, goals and routine
Emotional Regulation: noticing feelings, calming the body, recovering from mistakes
Physical Wellness: sleep, water, fuel, rest and listening to your body
Team and Connection: belonging, encouragement, leadership and asking for help
Growth and Identity: strengths, values and who you are beyond the score

Each week focuses on one pillar, and every session includes one healthy habit from Physical Wellness.

What a PlayWell Season Looks Like

PlayWell runs for eight weeks, with one 75-minute session each week. Every session follows the same rhythm, so kids always know what comes next: Huddle Up, Learn It, Play It, Pressure It, Talk It, and Take It Home. Each week has a short cue kids can say to themselves in the middle of a game.

Week 1, The Whole Athlete: "More than my stats"
Week 2, Confidence Is Built: "Coach yourself"
Week 3, Focus Under Fire: "Eyes on one thing"
Week 4, Calm in the Chaos: "Breathe and lower"
Week 5, Reset and Return: "Flush it, find it"
Week 6, See It. Believe It. Do It.: "See it first"
Week 7, Better Together: "Lift someone"
Week 8, The PlayWell Athlete: "My PlayWell plan"

Kids take home a challenge card each week, and caregivers get a short note on that week's skill. In Week 8, each athlete builds a personal PlayWell plan and shares it at a family showcase.

Who Leads PlayWell

PlayWell groups are led by MMI's limited licensed clinicians and clinical training interns. A licensed MMI clinician supervises them every week and is on call during every session. At least two trained adults are present at every group, with one adult for every 8 youth ages 6 to 8 and one for every 10 youth ages 9 to 14.

PlayWell is a skills and wellness program, not therapy. Our facilitators are trained in child safety, and any concern about a child is reviewed with a licensed supervisor. When a child may need more support, we connect families with MMI and community resources.

For Families

Who: Youth ages 6 to 14, grouped by age: 6 to 8, 9 to 11, and 12 to 14
Cost: Free
Experience needed: None. Kids who play on a team, play at recess, or are just getting started are all welcome.
Where and when: [Site, day, time and start date]
What to bring: [Water bottle and clothes to move in]
Access: Every activity has a seated or no-running option, and kids can always pass on sharing.
At signup: Caregivers complete a consent form and tell us about allergies and access needs.

Bring PlayWell to Your Site

Schools, rec leagues, faith communities and community centers can host PlayWell. Your site provides the space and helps with sign-ups and attendance. MMI provides trained facilitators, licensed supervision, and all program materials, including equipment, cue cards and athlete workbooks. To request the Program Overview, email info@themmi.org.

Support PlayWell

PlayWell is free for every family because of donors and community partners. Your gift helps cover athlete workbooks, equipment and facilitator training. Use the Donate Now button at the top of this page to give.