Why Skadi Partners with MCA for the Chill Zone Every Season

Mental wellness is a critical part of an athlete's journey, but it often takes a backseat to physical training and competitive outcomes. For young athletes, the pressure to perform can be immense, leading to challenges like performance anxiety and emotional burnout. Recognizing this gap, the partnership between Skadi Sport Psychology and the Minnesota Cycling Association (MCA) addresses this gap through the Chill Zone —a dedicated space supporting the emotional well-being of young cyclists at fall mountain biking race events.

This collaboration, now in its fourth season, provides a powerful example of how mental health resources can be woven directly into the fabric of youth sports. The core principle is simple but profound: developing mental resilience is just as vital as building physical strength and technical skill. Below, we’ll explore what the Chill Zone is, why this kind of support is essential for young athletes, and how this model is creating a healthier, more supportive sporting community.

The MCA is a state youth mountain biking league for 6th - 12th grade students across the state of Minnesota. The league has over 2,600 student athletes, 1,300 coaches (most of whom are parents and volunteers), and 80+ teams representing over 125 schools across the state. Races that take place each weekend from late August till mid-October at single track parks and race venues in Minnesota.

What Is the Chill Zone?

The MCA x Skadi Chill Zone

Look closely, and you can see a teen boy serving as a leg rest for his teammates :)

The Chill Zone is a designated space set up at every MCA race near the finish line. It is reserved exclusively for student-athletes, offering them a calm and supportive environment away from the pressures of competition. In the Chill Zone, young cyclists can process their race-day emotions, recover from the stress of competition, and regain their focus in a setting that feels safe and non-judgmental. This area is intentionally free from the presence of parents, coaches, and siblings. This boundary helps athletes feel comfortable being open and honest about their experiences without the weight of added expectations, comparisons, or the need to manage others' reactions. It creates a space where they can simply be—whether they need to celebrate a victory, process a disappointment, or just sit quietly.

The Chill Zone is managed by Skadi staff members who offer varying levels of interaction, depending on each athlete's needs.

Some youth use the space to talk through difficult moments from their race.
Others prefer to socialize with peers who understand the experience.
While others simply seek a quiet place to decompress.

This flexible format ensures that the support provided matches the athletes’ differing preferences on race day.

Why Mental Health Support Matters in Youth Sports

Participation in sports can bring about intense emotions—from excitement and pride of a personal best to frustration and disappointment of a tough race or not meeting a goal. Learning to manage these emotions is a skill that benefits athletes far beyond the race course. Research shows that adolescents with strong emotional regulation skills tend to perform better academically, build healthier relationships, and show greater resilience when facing challenges.

Unfortunately, many young athletes struggle with the mental side of their sport. Performance anxiety, for example, is incredibly common. The pressure to succeed can lead to overwhelming nerves, self-doubt, and even physical symptoms like pre-competition nausea. Young athletes experience high levels of stress related to their sport, which can impact both their enjoyment and their long-term participation.

Instead of waiting for mental health problems to arise, the Chill Zone takes a preventative approach. By making emotional support a normal and accessible part of the race experience, athletes are provided with the tools and practice they need to handle stress and anxiety constructively. This practical exposure is in line with widely recognized methods in sport and clinical psychology, where facing and managing emotions, rather than avoiding them, builds long-term resilience. This proactive mindset is a core component of developing healthy and effective mental strategies for athletes.

Aside from direct athlete support, Skadi staff in the Chill Zone offer a supportive presence, spot when an athlete might need additional help, and maintain the boundaries that create a judgment-free setting.

How the Chill Zone Builds Resilience

The true impact of the Chill Zone is seen in the small but significant moments that happen within it. It’s where a young rider learns that it’s okay to be disappointed after a fall, or where another finds the words to describe the pressure they feel before a race. These interactions provide a practical education in emotional intelligence.

Here’s how the Chill Zone helps build resilience:

Normalizes Emotional Expression: By creating a dedicated space for emotions, the Chill Zone sends a clear message: feelings are a normal part of sports. It counters the old-school "tough it out" mentality and teaches athletes that acknowledging their feelings is a sign of strength.
Provides a Safe Space to Process: After crossing the finish line, an athlete’s mind can be racing. The Chill Zone offers a crucial buffer before they face parents, coaches, or teammates. This moment of pause allows them to process their performance on their own terms, whether it was a success, a struggle, or something in between. This is especially helpful for athletes who may be experiencing the post-race blues or dealing with the frustration of a DNF (Did Not Finish).
Fosters Peer Support: The Chill Zone brings athletes together who have just shared a similar intense experience. They can connect over a challenging section of the course, celebrate each other's efforts, and realize they aren’t alone in their struggles. This sense of community is a powerful antidote to the isolation that can accompany individual sports.

Dr. Erin Ayala, owner and founder of Skadi Sport Psychology (and Chill Zone “bouncer”) takes a quick lunch break at the Pine Valley race in Cloquet, MN

Develops Coping Skills: Staff are trained to help athletes work through their emotions constructively. This might involve guiding them through deep breathing exercises to calm their nervous system or helping them reframe a negative thought. These are tangible mental skills that they can carry into future competitions and other areas of life.

Broader Benefits and Community Impact

Supporting athletes' mental health can have a positive effect on the wider sporting community. When young cyclists know they have access to emotional resources, they are more likely to view competition as a growth opportunity rather than a source of overwhelming stress. This can result in higher retention in the sport and more positive attitudes toward both training and racing. It helps create a culture where well-being is valued as much as winning.

The presence of the Chill Zone also helps establish healthy boundaries and shared responsibility. Parents and coaches can feel reassured knowing there is a designated, professionally staffed resource for emotional support, allowing them to focus on their own roles and interactions with athletes.

By normalizing emotional care alongside physical development, the Chill Zone makes competition more inclusive, ensuring a wider range of athletes can participate without feeling overwhelmed. The approach aligns with MCA’s vision to include and empower all youth in building a supportive and thriving cycling community.

Takeaways for Other Organizations

The collaboration between Skadi Sport Psychology and the Minnesota Cycling Association provides a replicable model for integrating mental health support into youth sports. By making emotional wellness resources accessible at events, organizations can proactively address mental health, help athletes develop resilience, and foster a healthier, more positive competitive environment.

Key takeaways include:

Be Proactive, Not Reactive: Don’t wait for a crisis. Integrate mental health resources directly into your events to provide ongoing, preventative support.
Create a Dedicated, Safe Space: Designate a physical area where athletes can go to decompress, free from the pressures of parents and coaches. Boundaries are essential.
Staff it with Trained Individuals: Ensure the space is managed by people who understand youth mental health and can provide appropriate guidance. This may involve partnering with local professionals, like a sport psychologist.
Normalize its Use: Promote the space as a resource for all athletes, not just those who are struggling. Frame it as a tool for recovery and focus, just like a cool-down tent or a nutrition station.

As more youth sports groups recognize the importance of psychological and emotional health, initiatives like the Chill Zone underscore the practical steps organizations can take to support young athletes holistically.

Conclusion

The Skadi and MCA Chill Zone is more than just a tent at a bike race; it’s a commitment to the whole athlete. It’s a space where young people learn that it’s okay to feel, to struggle, and to ask for support. By prioritizing mental resilience alongside physical prowess, this partnership is not only helping young cyclists perform better on the trail, but is also equipping them with emotional skills that will last a lifetime.

If you believe your athlete could benefit from developing mental skills to navigate the pressures of their sport, our team is here to help. Reach out to learn more about our mental performance coaching and therapy services for youth and collegiate athletes.

How Skadi and MCA’s Chill Zone Supports Youth Athletes’ Mental Health