It’s mind over matter at MSSA!

While the Mumbai Schools Sports Association MSSA has been organising their Free Summer Camp for school kids for over 50 years this time the event focussed on the mental aspect of sport besides the physical needsMSSA has roped in renowned sports psychologist Mugdha Bavare in a bid to offer the children a holistic experience that focuses on the mental aspects of all sportsIn asssociation with Dream Sports the camp April 16 to 30 at Azad Maidan has 305 boys and girls between the age group of eight and 14 honing their skills in football basketball and tennisldquoWe believe in the power of grassroot development By encouraging both boys and girls to participate in this camp we are not just creating players we are also building the future of sport We strongly believe that the young minds need to be trained well too and thatrsquos the reason we brought in Ms Bavarerdquo MSSA football secretary Sebastian Fernandes told middayAlso ReadChildrenrsquos Academy boys St Theresarsquos girls win WCG rink hockey titlesSports psychologists Kiran Salunkhe Left and Rasika Kalgutkar at the MSSA campInteractive sessionOn Monday after their practice sessions on the ground the kids had an interactive session with Bavarersquos team members Rasika Kalgutkar and Kiran Salunkhe The duo addressed the kids about the importance of mental wellbeing They also made the kids do simple exercises like balancing on one foot for a minute practising deep breathing and meditationldquoItrsquos still early for these kids to learn about the deeper impact of sports psychology That learning happens at a senior or elite level But here we are basically trying to develop the mindset of these kids at a younger age with basic ethicsBuilding a strong mindsetldquoThe idea currently is to build a strong which will get stronger as they grow The oneleg balancing act increases focus and helps build concentration Deep breathing and meditation enhance calmness of the mindrdquo said Kalgutkar going on to explain how sports psychologists can help athletesPressure at elite levelldquoThere will come a stage in the lives of these children when they will win medals on major platforms Some players may lose focus after achieving glory while others may miss out due to injury or some other reason Overall competing at higher levels always impacts the minds of players We psychologists try to understand their joy or setback and accordingly motivate the player or look for a solution At the end of the day an athletersquos career is very short and needs to be handled with carerdquo explained Kalgutkar The parents also came away impressed with what they saw at the MSSA campldquoI am quite surprised I didnrsquot know my son Lavish Chirag of Thakur Public School Kandivli was so talented This camp has been very exciting for our kids and even the facilities provided have been great throughout Also the mental training aspect that is being done this time is extremely interestingrdquo said a parent Pooja ChiragatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params