The growing awareness around mental health in sport has led to two new client wins for Glasgow-headquartered wellbeing technology start-up Frog Systems.
The company’s software was selected by United Leicester and Switch the Play for two significant projects – a free digital wellbeing hub for sports fans in the city of Leicester and a platform to help sportspeople improve their emotional health and prepare for new careers once they stop competing.
The charitable arms of the four professional sports clubs in Leicester – Leicester City FC, Leicester Tigers, Leicestershire County Cricket Club and Leicester Riders – came together to commission Frog Systems to create UnitedLeicester.com, a video-led support hub where players, staff and volunteers share their experiences to break down the stigma around mental health.
Matt Bray, Leicester City in the Community Health and Wellbeing Manager, said: “The new wellbeing hub has been designed for fans and supporters of Leicester’s professional sports clubs in mind. We all know the power of sport and the loyalty fans in the city give to our sporting teams. Hopefully, this is a way of clubs giving their support and help, to guide adults to local opportunities and services.”
The United Leicester hub links fans to local support organisations and a directory of mental health and wellbeing resources.
Former Leicester Tigers captain and head coach Ian ‘Dosser’ Smith (pictured), said: “Mental health has long been a taboo in sport but now is the time to challenge this and help those around us to gain the right support and guidance.”
The second client win is with Switch the Play Foundation, the only UK charity helping all sportspeople to fulfil their potential through and beyond the field of play. Called Switched On Inspires, the platform built by Frog Systems brings all the charity’s support services together alongside powerful video content from retired and current elite athletes as well as coaches and practitioners.
Rob Young, CEO of Switch the Play, said: “The new Switched On Inspires platform offers resources when they are needed by an individual, and will sit alongside our free one-to-one support and careers pathway service. Thanks to Frog Systems, sportspeople can access the online service and develop at their own pace, in their own time.”
Britain’s greatest ever female gymnast, Beth Tweddle MBE, is a Switch the Play Trustee and now owns and runs Beth Tweddle Gymnastics, engaging over 8,500 children per month in the sport.
Beth Tweddle explained: “Gymnastics and elite sport taught me so many core life skills, however I worked hard alongside my training, investing my time in education and business, to ensure that when my gymnastics career ended, I had opportunities open to me and was in control of my future.
“These are the insights and skills that I’ll be sharing on the Switched On Inspires platform and I hope I get to help and guide as many sportspeople as possible in the UK through it.”
Phil Worms, CEO of Frog Systems, explained: “Our software allows organisations to support those who take part in and follow sport. Fans and players have been hit hard by the lack of live action and worries about the future. The two platforms we have created for United Leicester and Switch the Play amplify the voices within the sports they represent to offer hope and support.”
Switch the Play and United Leicester follow other sports organisations such as Sussex Cricket and the British Basketball League in choosing Frog Systems’ Ashia® software to centralise their wellbeing resources and support their communities.