Swapping a standard size football for a much smaller one is no easy task – as players from Manchester United’s Girls Academy discovered this week.

The switch tested players’ technique and ball control, but it was a change made with reinforcing players’ positive mental traits in mind.

Recognising World Mental Health Day – marked annually on 10 October – Manchester United Foundation’s wellbeing ball was introduced to this week’s training session for our Under-11 and Under-12 teams.

The wellbeing football – a few notches smaller than a traditional size five – is used across the Foundation’s programmes, in both physical activity and classroom settings.

The ball features several phrases that encourage young people to be open about their thoughts and feelings.

“It’s really important that the girls are aware that they can talk about their mental wellbeing,” stressed Matt Johnson, Technical Director of the Girls Academy.

“The informality of the footballs, and introducing them while they’re playing, it allows the girls to think about their mental health. The ball is always visible and it’s a really good prompt to get talking.

“Mental health is a cornerstone of football development. If the girls are in a good place, it really helps them.”

The Foundation first introduced the wellbeing football in 2021, when 5,000 – with accompanying books – were delivered to help children in Greater Manchester with their mental health.

The wellbeing ball continues to have a key impact on young people accessing Foundation projects, which Girls Academy players noted themselves this week.

One of the players, Carys, 11, said: “I like the phrase ‘speak out’ on the football, because if you bottle up your feelings inside and don’t tell anyone, things get harder. I think you should speak out, because a problem shared is a problem halved.”

Izzy, 10, added: “The ball is very small – you have to try to take control of it better than the bigger ball. But it’s made me think about being kind to everybody, to treat everyone the same way, and speak out when you need to.”

Manchester United Foundation manages the Girls Academy at Foundation Phase and Youth Development Phase age groups (9-14), providing a pathway to the Manchester United Women senior set-up.