As a coach, you are a model and a leader to your athletes, organization, and fans. You are
called on to ensure those you’re entrusted with will improve through support, skillwork, and
practice, resulting in peak performances when they compete. Part of what makes a great coach
is knowing what your athletes need and when to deliver it – more accountability? a day off?
tactical knowledge? a high five? Your awareness of individual, team, and staff needs ensures
that you’re creating an environment in which people can thrive.
What would you do if you lead a team where 40% of your players felt mentally exhausted, 37%
felt overwhelmed, and 60% felt their sport-related worries negatively impacted their mental
health? Common sense suggests that prioritizing the well-being of the group would enable its
members to perform optimally. You might consider time away from sport, attending to the self-
care needs of players, and providing support and resources for your group that are out of your
scope of duties. It would be prudent to acknowledge the impact of mental health and well-being
on performance, remind those you serve that they are “more than a (insert sport-identity here),”
and tout the benefits of sport psychology services.
Similarly, these recommendations would also apply to coaches. What if I told you that the
statistics I provided above were not hypothetical, but rather the findings of a 2022 NCAA study
on coach well-being? Would you adhere to the same recommendations to remediate problems
and address the needs for yourself?
Coaches are performers. Coaches undergo stress, often in the forms of pressure to win, poor
sleep habits due to travel, managing difficult relationships, and the continuous need to be at
their very best for their athletes and organizations. Some of these factors are in your control,
and others are not.
Consider the habits, self-care initiatives, and boundaries you put in place on a daily basis to
ensure that you are functioning optimally. Are you making time for a holistic approach to your
health to ensure joy and longevity in your career? Are you self-aware enough to know when you
need support and are also willing to ask for help when you need it? What gets in the way of
taking care of yourself?
Honing your skills of self-assessment, vulnerability, authenticity, and a growth mindset not only
address your own well-being and performance, but can also have a positive impact on those
you coach. For more pro-tips on how to create the mindset and environment to help you thrive,
visit Work It Out Consulting @ www.drmichellejoshua.com.
