Our Story
The Youth Athlete Project (or YAP) was inspired by real people with real stories. Hear directly from our founder below:
“As a life-long athlete, sports have been a part of my life since I can remember. As a child, I loved being part of a team and working towards a common goal. I developed lifelong skills that I carry with me today. However, due to the culture of abuse that was fostered in many athletic environments, I also began a struggle with mental illness that left me wondering why I started sports in the first place.
As I took the steps to begin my own recovery, it became clear that I was far from alone in my struggles. Time after time, I met others my age whose mental health struggles were related to a negative experience within youth sports. We decided then that something needed to change.
From there, The Youth Athlete Project (YAP) was born. We believed in the power of youth sports to change lives, yet we knew they weren’t reaching their full potential. YAP is on a mission to reimagine the future of youth sports by making them safer for every child in New Mexico. We are on a journey to provide mental health support for young athletes and promote healthy environments that are free from abusive coaching. Our team is committed to working with youth sports programs throughout our community to ensure that every athlete and coach feels heard, respected, and valued.”
- Abby Merhege (she/her), Founder and President
What We Do
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We provide free programming and support directly to athletic programs, coaches, and athletes. We use a curriculum designed with the advice of clinical counselors and sports psychologists. The curriculum is designed to make youth sports safer and is based on clinical research and professional advice. Book our team to speak to your program today!
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Through our advocacy work, YAP aims to draft, lobby, and support legislation on a local level that promotes the wellness of young athletes. This includes lobbying to governing bodies such as the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA), SafeSport, and local school boards.
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One of our main goals as an organization is to foster a community for youth athletes to connect. We provide digital spaces for this, such as our social media platforms. We also host support groups to provide youth athletes with a safe space to connect with their peers.