Ahead of the Game

A randomised controlled trial of the Ahead of the Game program

Ahead of the Game uses the vehicle of organised sport to teach athletes, parents and coaches how to talk about mental health. The program teaches all participants how to recognise mental health problems, what to do about them, and when to get help. Athletes also learn how to build resilience and overcome challenges in sport and life via six online modules. The program has already been tested in a large research project and has been translated for athletes in the UK and Canada. Ahead of the Game is also the official mental fitness program of the Rugby League World Cup, 2021. In this trial, we will test how well the Ahead of the Game program is able to achieve its stated aims, including how long those benefits last.