Tips for Building a Positive and Strong Relationship with your Coach
Have you ever noticed that athletes often turn to their coaches first when they are winning, or when they are performing poorly?
Coaches are some of the most influential people in an athlete’s life and they have a significant impact on the success and development of an athlete. Athletes rely on their coaches for their technical and tactical expertise and guidance. However, coaches can also be mentors and motivators for their athletes and provide a shoulder to cry on.
Strong and positive coach-athlete relationships are important not only because they produce better results on the court, but also because they lead to positive experiences for the athlete, helping them develop as people.
Components of a good quality coach-athlete relationship
So what does a good coach-athlete relationship look like? According to research by sports psychologist Dr. Sophia Jowett, it comprises four dimensions or qualities: closeness, commitment, complementarity, and co-orientation (4 Cs or 3+1 Cs model).
Closeness describes the emotional connection between coaches and their athletes and it includes feelings such as trust, respect, appreciation, and care.
Commitment refers to a coach’s and an athlete’s intention to work with one another over a period of time and their willingness to undergo ups and downs together.
Complementarity describes the coach’s and athlete’s levels of cooperation, coordination, and collaboration. It reflects the degree to which coaches and athletes are responsive, friendly, and at ease during training and competition.
Co-orientation defines the degree to which coaches and athletes understand one another and to which they have developed a common ground. It also measures the extent to which coaches and athletes are trying to see the world through each other’s eyes.
Research has shown that coaches and athletes, who have high levels of the 4 Cs above, have better working relationships. Further, athletes with high levels of the 4 Cs are more likely to perform better, feel more motivated to train and compete, have better relationships with teammates, and have more confidence in themselves and their team.
If you are an athlete, the below tips will help you develop a good coach-athlete relationship with benefits for both yourself and your coach.
Tips for Developing Closeness
How much do you know about your coach outside of your sport? What do they like to do aside from the sport they coach you in? Try to show interest in him or her as a person by engaging in small talk and remembering his or her birthday. Be respectful by listening with your eyes and ears when your coach is speaking at practice or team meetings.
Tips for Developing Commitment
Make sure you do your part and possibly more! Ensure that you are punctual and do not miss any practice sessions (unexcused) and competitions. Come mentally and physically ready for practice. To show commitment, you can also ask your coach if you can stay after practice to receive instructions or feedback (and remember to thank him if he says yes). Talk with him about what your goals are and ask your coach what his goals for you are.
Tips for Developing Complementarity
Normally your coach will have clarified the roles (within the team and in relation to him or her) and the expectations he or she has of you as an athlete. If this is not the case, don’t be afraid to ask. Having team rules and expectations provides a clear training and competition structure and it will help you know where you stand and how far you can go. Try to actively participate in the training and readily receive and use the feedback you get from your coach.
Tips for Developing Co-Orientation
Co-orientation is usually achieved over the course of time and when the level of the other 3 Cs is high. Once you have got to know your coach better, you will understand how he thinks and what his motivations and intentions are and you will have acquired a mutual similarity and understanding. Asking questions and actively listening to your coach’s responses will help build up co-orientation with him or her. There may well be things your coach might say or do that you initially do not understand or are not entirely in agreement with. Communication plays a vital role here. Trying to put yourself in your coach’s position and seeing things through his eyes will make you more sensitive to his needs and perspectives.
The athlete-coach relationship is special. It can be challenging for both parties involved, but hopefully from this article, you are taking away some helpful tips for how you can contribute to building a positive and strong sporting relationship.
Bibliography:
“Tips for a Strong Relationship between Coach & Athlete.” Ohio University, 8 Sept. 2021, https://onlinemasters.ohio.edu/blog/5-tips-for-a-strong-relationship-between-a-coach-and-an-athlete/.
2022, Emma Foster 06 October, et al. “4 Ways to Successfully Communicate with Your Coach.” Swimming World News, 6 Oct. 2022, https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/4-ways-to-successfully-communicate-with-your-coach/.
Peterson, Dan. “Improving the Coach-Athlete Relationship.” Metrifit Ready to Perform, Metrifit Ready to Perform, 24 Jan. 2018, https://metrifit.com/blog/improving-the-coach-athlete-relationship/?cn-reloaded=1.
Hanson, Bo. “The Coach-Athlete Relationship Is a Performance Factor.” Athlete Assessments, 18 Mar. 2022, https://www.athleteassessments.com/coach-athlete-relationship-performance-factor/.
“The Importance of a Strong Coach-Athlete Relationship.” NFHS, https://www.nfhs.org/articles/the-importance-of-a-strong-coach-athlete-relationship/.
Metrifit. “Building a Positive Coach-Athlete Relationship.” Metrifit Ready to Perform, Metrifit Ready to Perform, 16 July 2020, https://metrifit.com/blog/metrifit-helps-to-build-the-crucial-athlete-coach-relationship/.
Authors Christopher M. Spray, et al. “It Takes Two: The Importance of the Coach-Athlete Relationship.” Frontiers for Young Minds, https://kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frym.2022.676115.
Lloyd, Griffin. “7 Tips to Strengthen Player-Coach Relationships.” Trace, 20 Sept. 2022, https://traceup.com/tips-for-communication-in-player-coach-relationship.
Atheletes & Coaches, https://sportpower2012.wordpress.com/.
Urstoreadmin, and Urstoreadmin. “Importance of the Coach-Athlete Relationship.” UrSTORE, 6 Dec. 2016, https://urstore.ca/blog/importance-of-the-coach-athlete-relationship/.