Healthy coach-athlete relationships

Learn what a healthy coach-athlete relationship looks and sounds like.

Best interest

What best interest looks like:

• displaying empathy for athletes
• maximising athlete talent and potential
• supporting athlete self-esteem with progressive goals and skills.

What it sounds like:

We will focus on these next steps and keep making progress – you know how to work hard!

Respect 

Respect can look like:

• listening and responding to unique athlete needs and interests
• collaborating and problem-solving together
• following a code of conduct.

It can sound like:

I’ve noticed you’ve been upset the last few practices. How can I support you right now?

Communication

Communication can look like:

• talking from a kind and strengths-based perspective
• focus on building successes and joy.

It can sound like:

What was the best part of last season? Let’s do more of that this year!

Trust

Trust can look like:

• committing to best practices
• be a role model
• planning together to reach goals.

It can sound like:

I shouldn’t have raised my voice. It’s not your fault, I am sorry.

Boundaries

Boundaries can look like:

• asking permission for necessary and appropriate physical contact
• interacting with athletes in easily observable ways
• maintaining firm and clear patterns of behaviour and limits.

It can sound like:

When you hit the ball, your wrist should be in a different position. Do you mind if I touch your hand to show you?

Responsibility

Responsibility can look like:

• maintaining predictable and clear expectations for athletes
• helping athletes build motivation and set goals
• fostering athlete skills such as teamwork, resilience and accountability.

It can sound like:

Just as you have to work hard at school to study a new subject, you have to work hard to learn a new skill on the field.

Honesty

Honesty can look like:

• providing balanced and constructive feedback with integrity and clarity
• communicating transparently.

It can sound like:

You are making great progress. You are on track to make the team next year.

Fairness

Fairness can look like:

• acting equitably towards all athletes
• teaching and championing sportsmanship
• engaging in consistent and positive discipline practices.

It can sound like:

All athletes are expected to be at every game an hour early to warm-up together.