At Hoopify, we create an environment built on professionalism, trust, and authentic connection. We want every session—whether with an adult athlete, coach, or teenager—to maintain a high professional and organizational standard, while also carrying a sense of human warmth and calm. Below you’ll find a set of good practices that help maintain quality, consistency, and the unique character of Hoopify’s work.
1. Preparing for a Session
- Ensure professional working conditions – a clean, neutral background, no distractions, and proper lighting (ideally natural or soft light from the front).
- Keep your camera at eye level, so your full face and gestures are clearly visible.
- Make sure the athlete can see your posture as well as your face—body language and facial expressions are part of communication.
- Check for stable internet connection, good sound, and a quality microphone.
- Dress in a neutral and neat way so that nothing distracts from the conversation.
- Turn off notifications and make sure the session takes place in a quiet, private, and focused setting.
2. Work Style and Communication
- Conduct each conversation in a spirit of trust, acceptance, and genuine curiosity about the other person.
- Avoid judgment—observe, ask, and support.
- At Hoopify, we emphasize a partnership-based relationship—the psychologist walks alongside the athlete rather than leading from above.
- Encourage regularity and remind athletes that mental growth is a process, not a one-time consultation.
- Use the in-app chat to maintain contact: a short message, quick check-in, post-training reflection, or reminder can make a huge difference in building connection.
- If an athlete becomes unresponsive or avoids meetings, reach out via chat in a calm, nonjudgmental tone (“How are you feeling?”, “Would you like to talk today?”).
3. Structure of Cooperation
- Each session lasts 45 minutes and takes place as a video call.
- Sessions are not recorded, and psychologists should never ask users to record them.
- Between-session tasks are welcome—brief reflections, breathing exercises, journaling after a game or training, or emotional observations.
- Always clarify the goal and direction of work, even if the session has a more open or conversational tone.
- Remember that the relationship is a process—give space, build trust, but also maintain structure (time, rhythm, and agreed-upon meetings).
4. Working with Young Athletes and Parents (Recommendations)
- Working with minors requires special attention and transparency.
- Recommended model of cooperation:
- First session: joint meeting with the parent(s) and the athlete—set rules, goals, and boundaries (the final 15 minutes can be one-on-one with the athlete).
- Subsequent sessions: individual meetings with the young athlete.
- Once a month: a brief joint summary (last 10–15 minutes of a session) with both the parent(s) and the athlete.
- As a rule, if parents talk with the psychologist, the young athlete should also be present—this builds trust and prevents misunderstandings.
- In crisis situations (e.g., health threats, violence, self-harm), the psychologist is obligated to contact the parent or relevant authorities.
- Always protect boundaries and a sense of safety—the young athlete should know that sessions are confidential but not secret when real danger is involved.
5. Ethics and Professional Conduct
- Confidentiality is fundamental. Everything that happens within the relationship stays between you and the athlete—except in situations involving risk to life or health.
- Respect diversity and individuality—age, level, background, temperament.
- Do not engage in private or social media relationships with athletes.
- In case of ethical doubts, contact the Hoopify team.
- Treat every session as a professional meeting—even when the tone is relaxed and friendly.
6. Maintaining Relationship and Process
- At Hoopify, we emphasize continuity of contact—you can keep the connection alive through short chat messages, tasks, or check-ins between sessions.
- Build micro-interactions that strengthen engagement: a simple “How was training today?” can mean more than a long analysis.
- Support the athlete’s independence—your goal is not dependency but growth of their inner compass.
- Regularly summarize the process—together with the athlete, identify what works, what needs adjustment, and what already brings results.
7. Shared Mission
Hoopify is more than an app. It’s a community of specialists who combine professionalism with authenticity. We want every session—regardless of the athlete’s age—to be a space where they can be themselves, develop awareness, and build inner strength. Your tone, presence, light, and calm—all become part of the Hoopify experience.
