The Coach’s Role
Although it is difficult to give sole credit to the coach for a certain performance, the influence they have on their athletes is much more powerful than obvious. Strong and healthy connections between coaches and athletes contribute to long-lasting effects on athlete performances as well as mental health and well-being (Jowett et al., 2012). Therefore, allowing coaches to understand their athlete’s varying needs and how to deal with them can foster this coach-athlete relationship that is extremely important to not only win and be successful, but to keep the passion for the game and life (Lemelin et al., 2022). Although a healthy relationship is only reachable when effort comes from both parties, a coach’s role supports the notion that their behaviors can play a positive impact.
Need-supportive
Coaching Style
Coaches can become more skilled if adopting a need-supporting coaching style to benefit the team’s autonomy, motivation, and intent to participate (Reynders et al., 2019). Coaches who adopt this style in a team sport context can create a positively correlation to athletes’ perceived justice of the coach and can optimize team functioning. Findings show that there is a logical benefit of need-supportive coaches allowing their athletes to express opinion, offer relevant information to them, and care for their progression no matter game or situation specifications—which include coaching style, coach behaviors, player status, and game result (De Backer et al., 2018). Need supportive coaching style allows coaches to foster a mastery environment and this motivational climate develops the relation between need-supportive coaching style and proactivity.
