Mentor program at Blue Marlins

Why SportMeter?

At Blue Marlins in The Hague and Rotterdam, SportMeter's Coach Module is used to give structural attention to the mental and social well-being of athletes.

"Blue Marlins has 'happy and healthy' members as one of its three core goals. SportMeter makes this possible for us. It lets us map the well-being of our members and adjust where needed." — Lars Wouters, Blue Marlins Swimming Club

The module gives trainers and coaches easy check-ins, insight into mental load and a structured way to start the conversation. This fits the vision of Swim Science Lab, which wants to bring data-driven working to swimming.

"As Swim Science Lab, we want to bring data-driven working to swimming. Based on data analysis and scientific insights, we want to develop the sport at both amateur and elite level. We want to do this for physical parameters, but also for mental factors." — Wouter Arnoldus, Swim Science Lab

How is it applied in swimming?

The pilot encourages professional behaviour among athletes and coaches, where mental check-ins are just as important as physical check-ins.

• Kick-off (month 1): one-on-one conversation between athlete and coach.
• Weekly check-ins (Friday after training): short questions about well-being, fun, team spirit and development (max. 5 minutes).
• Coaches monitor through the tool and hold ad-hoc conversations when answers stand out. They refer athletes to trainers or specialists when needed and support them in balancing school/work, sport and private life.

Impact

The approach creates a positive sports climate in which athletes feel heard and seen and can grow mentally and physically. Mentors and coaches can pick up signals early, adjust guidance and strengthen team spirit.

"Well-being and fun are the foundation for every athlete. Without that foundation, you simply can't work toward other goals." — Lars Wouters

In addition, Wouter Arnoldus of Swim Science Lab notes: "A healthy body and a healthy mind are both essential for sporting enjoyment and performance. We believe mental health is still often overlooked and want to do something about that."

A call to clubs

Want a stronger and more human sports climate? With weekly mental check-ins, mentor support and dashboards, you can let the well-being and performance of your athletes go hand in hand.