Ask, Understand, and Act

During sports activities, everything revolves around development, motivation, and well-being. To guide athletes toward a healthy balance—both physically and mentally—a structured approach is essential. The Ask – Understand – Act cycle provides a practical framework for this.

Ask: starting with the conversation

The cycle begins with asking. Through periodic check-ins, coaches and mentors can gain insight into their athletes’ well-being. SportMeter helps the coach anchor the conversation and automates administrative tasks, making it easy and consistent to ask targeted questions.

“Determining effective check-in questions can help athletes maintain a balance in their physical, mental, and social well-being. By using different themes, you can guide athletes toward a healthier and more engaged sports experience.”

Check-ins are valuable, but they also come with a challenge: how active or passive should the coach be?

Understand: balancing involvement and boundaries

When analysing answers, many coaches and mentors struggle with their role:

• Too active: Some coaches give extensive advice on health or well-being, risking stepping beyond their expertise or responsibilities.
• Too passive: others completely withdraw, arguing that it is not part of their role. This can lead to missed signals or athletes feeling unheard.

From our pilot, two key insights have emerged:

• Involvement: listening, asking follow-up questions, and recognising signals. This gives athletes acknowledgement and shows that someone cares.
• Boundaries: involving professional help when needed. Coaches refer athletes to professionals within the organisation without giving medical or psychological advice themselves.

This way, check-ins remain supportive and responsible. Volunteers and coaches don’t need to solve everything, but can ask the right questions and provide a safe connection.

Act: taking action without crossing boundaries

After understanding the signals, action follows. This means:

• Providing practical support within your role (motivating, encouraging, adjusting training).
• Referring to professionals for matters beyond one’s expertise (possibly with the help of a trusted contact).

With this clear role division, coaches and mentors can respond effectively to athletes’ needs without putting themselves or the athletes at risk.

The result: a healthier, more engaged, and safer sports experience for everyone

The Ask – Understand – Act cycle helps sports organisations provide a structure in which athletes are heard, supported, and safely guided. By using check-ins wisely and respecting the balance between involvement and boundaries, coaches and volunteers can fulfil their roles optimally: noticing signals, supporting athletes, and referring when necessary.