The “Sağlam Zihin Güçlü Takım” (Sound Mind Strong Team) project, implemented under the leadership of Üsküdar University Institute of Social Sciences Psychology Asst. Prof. İdil Arasan Doğan, has been completed. The project, which began with the U11 basketball team in the infrastructure of Akademi İstanbul Sports Club, affiliated with the Turkish Basketball Federation, and was later continued with the U9 team, provided significant contributions to both young athletes and university students.
The project, conducted between December 2024 and May 2025, was carried out under the advisorship of Üsküdar University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean Prof. Dr. Deniz Ülke Kaynak and Institute of Social Sciences Director Prof. Dr. Gökben Hızlı Sayar, and the mentorship of Institute Deputy Director Asst. Prof. Dr. Remziye Keskin.
The project received active contributions from Psychology Undergraduate and Graduate students Ayşe İsra Ekinci, Aycan Polat, Fidan Kasımlı, Hande Yalçın, Gizem Aslan, along with Psychologist Zeynep Yeşilçöllü, who participated voluntarily from outside the institution.
Psychosocial Support Provided to Athletes and Parents
Within the scope of the project, individual and group sessions were conducted with athletes. The sessions focused on;
- Goal setting
- Emotional control
- Attention and concentration
- Self-confidence and performance under pressure
- Motivation and perseverance.
Mental activation sessions held before Turkish Basketball Federation matches supported athletes in their preparation for competitions. Additionally, family support was strengthened through meetings held with parents.
Theoretical Knowledge Put into Practice
Psychology Undergraduate and Clinical Psychology Graduate students involved in the project gained practical experience under supervision, reinforcing their professional skills such as managing group dynamics, developing empathy, and fostering collaboration. Thus, students had the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in the field.
Contribution Made to Both Academia and Sports
The “Sağlam Zihin Güçlü Takım” (Sound Mind Strong Team) project, while creating a psychosocial support model for young basketball players, also provided professional experience to university students. In this respect, the project stood out as a valuable contribution to both the academic world and the field of sports.
The project concluded with the awarding of certificates to the athletes and implementing students.
