Stressors in elite sport: A coach perspective

Abstract

We examined the varying performance and organizational stressors experienced by coaches who operate with elite athletes. Following interviews with eleven coaches, content analysis of the data revealed coaches to experience comparable numbers of performance and organizational stressors. Performance stressors were divided between their own performance and that of their athletes, while organizational stressors included environmental, leadership, personal, and team factors. The findings provide evidence that coaches experience a variety of stressors that adds weight to the argument that they should be labelled as "performers" in their own right. A variety of future research topics and applied issues are also discussed.

Organisational Stressors, Coping, and Coping Effectiveness: A Longitudinal Study with an Elite Coach

“…With regard to coping responses, first-order themes were inductively clustered into second-order themes and were ongoing until further refinement was not possible. However, for stressor responses, when similarities were evident, first-order themes were deductively clustered into second-order themes that have been identified by previous research [6]. Highest order themes generated for both stressor and coping responses were labelled general dimensions.…”

“…Given the prevalence of organisational stressors identified, research is required in order to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the organisational stress process among elite coaches. Although Thellwell et al [6] identified which stressors were most cited during an interview, it does not necessarily mean these stressors will be experienced most frequently. Longitudinal research, utilising a prospective design, is required to examine frequency [10].…”

“…Although Thelwell et al [6] identified an array of performance related stressors (n = 88), over half of the total number of stressors documented were organisational in nature (n = 94). Organisational stressors have been defined as "the environmental demands (i.e.…”

“…Two notable exceptions, however, have been identified [5,6]. Through interviewing 10 NCAA Division 1 coaches, Frey [5] found communicating with athletes, lack of control over athletes, recruitment, and the pressure of having too many roles/ responsibilities were commonly reported stressors.…”

“…Although Frey's [5] study provided a much needed insight into the key stressors experienced by collegiate coaches, her findings are not generalisable to elite coaches. In response to this, Thelwell et al [6] examined stressors experienced by coaches operating in an elite setting. Their study consisted of 11 participants who gave retrospective accounts of stressors via interviews.…”