The 'Strong Mind, Strong Team' project, led by Lecturer İdil Arasan Doğan from Üsküdar Üniversitesi Institute of Social Sciences, is being implemented for the U11 Basketball team in the infrastructure of Akademi İstanbul Sports Club, affiliated with the Turkish Basketball Federation. The 6-8 week social responsibility initiative aims to enhance young athletes' psychological resilience, goal setting, and team cohesion.
The project will be carried out under the advisorship of Prof. Dr. Deniz Ülke Kaynak, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Üsküdar Üniversitesi, and Prof. Dr. Gökben Hızlı Sayar, Director of the Institute of Social Sciences at Üsküdar Üniversitesi, and under the mentorship of Dr. Remziye Keskin, Assistant Director of the Institute of Social Sciences.
Psychosocial skills and performance development are prioritized
In the 'Strong Mind, Strong Team' project, athletes will receive training on topics such as communication skills, intrinsic motivation, self-control, stress management and anxiety management, teamwork, and positive thinking. Furthermore, athletes' performance-oriented thinking abilities will be supported through visualization and mental imagery techniques. Pre-test/post-test evaluations will be conducted to ensure the scientific basis of the training.
Active participation from university students
The project will be implemented with the active participation of Fidan Kasımlı, Ayşe İsra Ekinci, Barkın Öngören, Aycan Polat, Hande Yalçın, İrem Zeynep Avcı, Gizem Aslan, and Psychologist Zeynep Yeşilçöllü, who are Clinical Psychology Master's students from Üsküdar Üniversitesi Institute of Social Sciences and Psychology Bachelor's students from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
During this process, students will gain significant experience in sports psychology, in addition to experiencing skills such as group work, empathy, and cooperation. By working one-on-one and in groups with athletes, they will gain practical experience in areas such as thinking skills, stress management, and increasing motivation. They will also have the opportunity to apply the theoretical knowledge they have learned in this field on the ground.
Emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration
The 'Strong Mind, Strong Team' project once again demonstrates Üsküdar Üniversitesi's active role in projects contributing to society across different disciplines. With this project, the university is expected to add another prominent work to its portfolio, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and adding a professional experience dimension to students' educational journeys.
Development within the athlete, family, and coach triangle
Within the scope of the project, not only athletes but also families are included in the process. Psychoeducation programs will be organized for families, explaining how they can contribute to their children's mental resilience and team cohesion processes. The project offers a holistic development model through athlete-family-coach collaboration. Aiming to contribute to the development of young individuals and their professional skills, the project also stands out as an exemplary work encompassing the athlete, family, and coach triangle.