Why PERMA-V Matters in Sport

Written by Head of Well-being, Kerry Larby

Next week, many of our athletes head into Tournament Week. This is a highlight of the school year and a chance to compete, connect, and grow. As exciting as it is, high‑performance moments also bring pressure, nerves, travel fatigue, and the emotional highs and lows that come with sport.

That’s exactly why PERMA‑V matters. It gives athletes a simple, powerful framework to stay grounded, focused, and at their best, on and off the field.

Positive Emotion

Sports are emotional. Goals, losses, and unexpected moments can quickly push athletes into red‑brain mode – the stressed, reactive state where thinking narrows. Positive emotions like gratitude, joy, and optimism help shift the brain back into blue‑brain mode, restoring calm, focus, and perspective.

Small moments of positivity can change the whole day.

Engagement

Being “in the zone”, fully absorbed and in flow, is one of the best feelings in sport. Engagement helps athletes trust their training, stay present, and perform with clarity. It also reduces stress, quiets overthinking, and builds confidence through challenge.

When you focus on the moment in front of you, performance rises.

Relationships

Sport is a team experience, even in individual codes. Relationships build trust, communication, motivation, and the sense of belonging every athlete needs. A supportive glance from a teammate, a quick huddle, or a shared laugh can shift the energy instantly, and the same is true of the connections with coaches, managers, and whānau.

When relationships are strong, athletes compete with freedom, bravery, and belief in one another.

Meaning

Tournament Week is more than just results. It’s about representing St Andrew's College, honouring your training, and doing something that matters to you. When athletes tap into meaning – "Why am I here? Why does this matter to me?" – they feel more purpose, pride, and resilience.

Purpose fuels performance.

Accomplishment

Sport teaches goal-setting, persistence, and the joy of mastery. Whether it’s a personal best, a moment of bravery, or a team breakthrough, accomplishment builds self-belief and motivation.

Every small win counts.

Vitality

Energy underpins everything. Sleep, hydration, nutrition, recovery, and technology habits shape how well athletes think, focus, and perform. Vitality ensures athletes can handle intensity and back‑to‑back games.

Healthy routines give you the edge when it matters.

A Final Word for Tournament Week

PERMA‑V reminds athletes that well-being and performance are deeply connected. When ākonga feel supported, energised, connected, and purposeful, they don’t just play better, they flourish.

To all our athletes competing next week:

Play with heart. Look after each other. And enjoy the moments you’ll remember long after the final whistle – because these moments are the foundation of your character and well-being.