A Qualitative Exploration of Psychological-Skills Use in Coaches

Abstract

The current study examined whether, where, when, and for what purposes coaches use psychological skills. A total of 13 elite-level coaches completed a structured interview using open-ended questions to examine their use of self-talk, imagery, relaxation, and goal-setting skills. Data were analyzed via deductive content analysis and indicated self-talk and imagery to be cited more frequently than relaxation and goal setting throughout the interviews. In addition, some purposes for using each skill were specific to training or competition across each time frame (before, during, and after), whereas there were several purposes consistent across each environment. Although the findings suggest that coaches employ psychological skills, it is imperative that they become aware of what skills they require and what skills they possess if they are to maximize their use across their wide-ranging coaching roles.

Stress and Coping: A Study of World Class Coaches

“…The study built on previous research, and findings revealed that as well as having an impact upon their athletes' experiences, stressors can have a negative and somewhat longer-term effect on coaches' own personal lives and relationships. Furthermore, although recent research suggests that elite coaches do employ psychological skills (Thelwell et al, 2008a), the findings of the present study suggested that coaches' use of such skills to cope with stressors was limited, despite their attempts to use a vast array of coping strategies to cope with the stressors they encountered. It was felt that the small sample size was offset by the participants' vast wealth of experience in a world class coaching environment (a mean average of over 14 years).…”

“…While this study attempted to explore the coach's perceptions of coping effectiveness, the ways in which the coach responded to stressors and the perceived effects of stress, were not explored. In a recent qualitative investigation, Thelwell et al (2008a) explored the use of psychological skills in 13 elite-level coaches from the UK, finding that coaches employed goal-setting, imagery, self-talk, and relaxation skills across a range of situations. While Thelwell et al demonstrated that world class coaches appear to use a variety of psychological skills, albeit in a somewhat limited fashion, the specific strategies used to cope with the demands of coaching within the unique culture of world class sport still warrant further investigation.…”

“…This substantial investment highlights the importance attached to producing and developing world class coaches in the United Kingdom. This growing importance afforded to coaching is reflected in an increase in the amount of sport psychology research dedicated to the topic (e.g., Erickson, Côté, & Fraser-Thomas, 2007;Frey, 2007;Levy, Nicholls, Marchant, & Polman, 2009;Olusoga et al, 2009;Thelwell, Weston, Greenlees, & Hutchings, 2008a;2008b). For example, the importance of the relationship between coach and athlete has been commented upon by a number of authors (e.g., Baker, Yardley, & Côté, 2003;Lyle, 1999), and coaches have been identified as having a significant impact on athletes' satisfaction and performance accomplishments (Jowett & Cockerill, 2003).…”

Are German Coaches Highly Exhausted? A Study of Differences in Personal and Environmental Factors

“…Future research might focus on the qualitative analysis of demands and strains as well as recovery strategies of German coaches and on the longtime development during a season to build up an understanding for the job as a coach. Several studies in the past could function as examples [4,84]. Additionally, new designs might consider part-time coaches and volunteers.…”

Elite portuguese soccer players’ use of psychological techniques: where, when and why

“…This specific technique has received most of its attention via intervention-based studies alone (Thelwell, Weston, Greenlees, & Hutchings, 2008). Relaxation techniques have been used in sport primarily to enhance recovery from training and competition, manage anxiety, and improve performance (Weinberg & Comar, 1994).…”