Before the whistle blows, before the first pass, and before the rush of competition begins, Crim youth soccer athletes are learning to pause.
That pause matters.
Recently, during one of our youth soccer programs, athletes and coaches came together before games to practice Box Breathing, a simple mindfulness technique that helps calm the mind and body. The moment was a powerful reminder that youth sports can be about more than skill development and competition. They can also be a place where young people learn focus, emotional awareness, self-control, and resilience.
This is the heart of Crim’s “More Than Sports” approach: developing strong athletes also means supporting strong minds and healthy bodies.
Box Breathing follows four steady steps: inhale slowly for a count of four, hold for four, exhale for four, and hold again for four. Repeating that cycle creates a rhythm that can help the body return to balance.
For young athletes, that rhythm can be especially powerful. Sports often bring excitement, pressure, nerves, and big emotions. “Learning how to slow the breath gives athletes a tool they can use in the moment, whether they are preparing for a game, recovering from a mistake, managing frustration, or finding focus before the next play,” says Jennifer Keasler, Crim Mindfulness Coordinator.
Mindfulness and sports work together because both require presence. Athletes need to listen, respond, adjust, and stay connected to their teammates. Breathwork helps create space between emotion and action, giving young people a practical way to steady themselves before they respond.
That kind of skill reaches beyond the field. When athletes learn to regulate their nervous system, they are practicing something they can carry into school, home, relationships, leadership, and everyday challenges. A calmer body can support clearer thinking. A grounded athlete can become a more confident teammate. A young person who learns to pause can begin to recognize their own strength.
Those lessons are part of what makes youth sports such a meaningful space for growth. A practice like Box Breathing may only take a few minutes, but it can help athletes understand that performance is not just physical. It is also mental, emotional, and social.
The impact of that work shows up in small but meaningful ways. One proud student athlete who received a Student Leadership Award shared, “I have my leadership award on my dresser in my room.”
That pride matters, too. It reflects a young person seeing themselves not only as an athlete, but as a leader.
Moments like these show how sports and mindfulness can come together to support the whole athlete. Through movement, teamwork, breath, and reflection, Crim is helping young people build skills they can use on and off the field.
That is what it means to be More Than Sports. Click here to learn more about our mindfulness program or and click here to learn more about our sports program.
