Changing the Conversation: Lessons on Resilience from the Sporting Chance Summit 2026
This year, more than 300 people gathered at York Racecourse for the Sporting Chance Summit, bringing together athletes, practitioners, researchers, governing bodies, charities, and support organisations with a shared interest in mental health and wellbeing in sport. The scale of attendance alone reflected how much the conversation around mental health in sport has evolved in recent years.
Founded more than 25 years ago by former Arsenal and England football captain Tony Adams MBE, Sporting Chance was established to provide support for athletes experiencing challenges with their mental health, wellbeing, or addictive behaviours. During his keynote address, Tony reflected on the early years of the charity, when conversations about addiction, mental health, and help-seeking were often accompanied by considerable stigma and misunderstanding. Today, Sporting Chance has become a trusted source of support for hundreds of athletes and continues to expand its reach into new sectors.
One theme that ran throughout the day was the importance of creating spaces where people feel able to speak openly and honestly about their experiences. Tony described Sporting Chance as a non-judgemental environment where people can be heard and supported, highlighting the value of connection, compassion, and vulnerability.
Rethinking Resilience
Another particularly thought-provoking presentation came from former England rugby league international Dan Sarginson, who challenged some of the traditional assumptions surrounding resilience.
For many people, resilience is often equated with toughness, pushing through difficulties, and managing problems independently. However, Dan reflected on how these beliefs can sometimes discourage people from expressing emotions, asking for help, or seeking support when they need it most.
Instead, he described resilience as something more nuanced. Rather than simply enduring challenges, resilience may also involve recognising when support is needed, developing healthy coping strategies, and building confidence in our ability to manage difficult thoughts and emotions. A key message from his presentation was that:
"Resilience is our ability to face our internal and external challenges, to take on what we can handle, and to accept and seek support with what is too much." - Dan Sarginson
This perspective aligns with a growing body of research suggesting that help-seeking should not be viewed as a sign of weakness, but rather as an important component of wellbeing, recovery, and sustainable performance.
Prevention, Not Just Crisis Response
Another recurring theme throughout the summit was prevention. Several speakers discussed the importance of helping people access support before difficulties escalate. Education, open conversations, positive role models, and opportunities to hear others' experiences can all help challenge stigma and encourage earlier help-seeking. Rather than waiting until someone reaches a point of crisis, there is growing recognition that proactive approaches to wellbeing may benefit both individuals and organisations.
For those of us working in research, education, and knowledge exchange, this message resonates strongly. Whether working with athletes, dancers, students, coaches, or community groups, there is increasing appreciation that supporting wellbeing is not simply about responding to problems when they occur. It is also about creating environments that promote psychological safety, connection, belonging, and access to support.
What Can We Learn?
While the summit focused on sport, many of the lessons apply far beyond performance environments.
The event served as a reminder that:
Mental health conversations have come a long way, but continued progress is needed.
Help-seeking is a strength, not a weakness.
Human connection remains one of the most powerful sources of support.
Prevention and early intervention matter.
Creating psychologically safe environments benefits everyone involved.
These messages are highly relevant across sport, dance, education, healthcare, and community settings.
Looking Ahead
The SPRINT Project was proud to be represented at the summit through four research posters, providing opportunities to share our work and connect with collaborators, practitioners, and organisations who share a commitment to improving wellbeing and supporting positive change.
Events such as the Sporting Chance Summit highlight the value of bringing together lived experience, practice, and research. By listening to diverse voices and sharing knowledge across sectors, we can continue working towards environments where people feel supported not only to perform, but also to thrive.
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