Elevating Athlete Well-Being: Wayhaven’s Work with Queens University Athletics

Wayhaven is excited to share the details of our latest pilot program in partnership with Queens University Athletics! This initiative took place during the spring season, where student-athletes had the opportunity to integrate Wayhaven’s AI Well-Being Coaches into their daily routines. Over the course of 2 months, 60 student-athletes had 832 engagements with the AI Coaches.

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Supporting Student-Athletes with AI
Student-athletes face unique challenges—balancing rigorous training schedules, academic demands, and personal well-being. At Queens University, fostering mental resilience is a priority, and this pilot aimed to explore how AI-powered well-being support could enhance student-athletes’ ability to manage stress, build confidence, and maintain focus.

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Throughout the season, athletes engaged with Wayhaven’s AI Well-Being Coaches, using the platform for guided reflection, goal setting, and real-time support. Whether navigating pre-game nerves, overcoming setbacks, or developing mindfulness habits, the AI coaches provided an accessible and personalized resource to complement the existing support system within Queens Athletics.

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“Wayhaven’s ability to quickly connect, clarify and deliver has been a game changer. It helps our student athletes clarify their thoughts through probing questions. Our athletes who used Wayhaven could more accurately describe what it was that impacted their performances, and they were able to describe the techniques and tactics suggested to help them. Wayhaven can be leveraged with the timid who do not have the courage to go see a psychologist or for those who crave more time, Wayhaven is used between visits.” - Coach Jeff Dugdale

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Key Insights from the Pilot

This pilot provided valuable insights into how AI can serve as a proactive tool for athlete well-being. Some key takeaways include:

• Personalized Support On-Demand – Athletes appreciated having 24/7 access to tailored well-being strategies, helping them process challenges in real time.
• Enhanced Mental Preparation – The AI tools helped athletes build pre-meet confidence and focus, reinforcing positive mental habits before competitions.
• Reflection and Growth – Many participants found the journaling and reflection features useful in recognizing patterns in their mental approach and adjusting accordingly.‍
• Custom AI Coaches – Based on a student design thinking session in January, we created a sage swim coach that athletes grew to love, demonstrating the power of student-driven AI design.

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Student-athletes also shared their experiences:

• “I expected it to be similar to ChatGPT, but it turns out to be much more personalized than I expected.”
• “I was impressed that Wayhaven’s coaches are trained specifically for certain groups, including my team. When I referred to our athletic trainer, Wayhaven immediately knew who the person was and what her responsibility was.”
• “I liked that it knew our meet schedule and things like the ASUN Conference and the scoring team.”
• “I expected it to be more question-answer and less conversational. I was surprised that Wayhaven carried on like a real conversation.”
• “I liked that it firstly validated and encouraged my responses, then asked more questions about me before giving helpful and specific advice on how to conquer my fears.”
• “I feel like there was no judgment involved. Sometimes when you talk to people with different opinions, they don’t really hear you out.”
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Looking Ahead
This pilot with Queens University Athletics is part of Wayhaven’s broader mission to bring accessible, AI-powered well-being support to students across various domains. The insights gained will help us refine our platform to better serve the unique needs of student-athletes and beyond.

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We’re grateful for the collaboration with Queens Athletics and look forward to continuing to innovate in the space of mental well-being and performance support. Stay tuned for more updates as we expand our initiatives and share further learnings.

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