When Simone Biles made the shocking decision to withdraw from competition at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the world exploded with opinions. Everyone – from the most passionate fans to those who had no idea what a handspring was – had something to say about it.
The compassionate supporters, those whose thoughts were laced with applause for a long overdue prioritization of mental health, provided Biles with the soft landing she might have been looking for and praised her as a hero.
The pitchfork critics with sharp tongues that shot piercing words out into the ethos came at her with vengeance, scaring off any less confident athlete who might have considered following in her footsteps.
And then there were the more curious of spectators, those whose wonderings and poignantly posed questions offered activated dialogue for what this meant about the future of athlete well-being, safety, and performance.
Those curious spectators sparked a slew of mental health experts and performance coaches quickly taking to podcasts and TV guest spots to underline a crucial point: the mental health of athletes could no longer be ignored. And thank goodness they did.
How Mental Health Demands Are Changing the Coaching Landscape
The evolving recognition of mental health’s critical role in athletic performance is categorically reshaping the sports coaching landscape.
Traditionally, coaches emphasized physical conditioning and technical skills, often overlooking psychological well-being. Nowadays, however, the need to recognize athletes as more than workhorses and performance providers has put coaches in a unique position to go beyond reps, sets, and blocks.
Couple that with recent research underscoring the impact of mental health on athletes’ performance and you get a much-needed paradigm shift toward more holistic coaching approaches.
Here’s how to make sure you’re taking a human-first approach to coaching, from recognizing shame to building trust and taking care of your own mental health, too.
Recognize and Address Shame
Understanding the role of shame in sport performance is now paramount in this new environment. Shame, the human experience of nonbelonging or unworthiness, is often one of the most debilitating emotions athletes experience, especially when their performance doesn’t meet expectations or when they face setbacks.
Coaches must be mindful of how shame can manifest and work to create a culture where athletes feel safe to express vulnerability without fear of judgment. But first, they have to be savvy and skilled enough to recognize shame and how it shows up in their athletes.
This may not only take additional training on topics like shame resilience but also a more invested coaching approach that includes stepping into conversations that may be unfamiliar to coaches. And this requires trust.
Put Effort Into Building Trust
Trust is the cornerstone of an effective coach-athlete relationship. And building trust requires a deliberate effort from coaches to listen, empathize, and provide a consistent and non-judgmental space for athletes to open up.
A coach/athlete relationship where trust is the foundation allows athletes to share their emotional experience knowing their coach has their back. Coaches who cultivate a trusting environment make it easier for athletes to reach out when they need help, creating a proactive approach to mental health.
Knowing When and How to Intervene
Another new aspect of coaching in today’s landscape is competently recognizing mental health disturbances in athletes.
Coaches can no longer turn their heads in a “not my job” response to an athlete who appears to be struggling. It is paramount that they educate themselves on the wide-ranging signs of mental distress and effectively intervene when needed.
Early intervention can significantly improve outcomes for athletes dealing with mental health challenges. But for coaches to do this, they have to be more psychologically skilled than what was once asked of them a decade or so ago.
Being a human doesn’t make you an expert at humans, and it’s critical that coaches have the self-awareness to say, “I don’t know much about that, let me learn!”
Your Mental Health Matters, Too
Because of the demands for coaches to be more psychologically tuned in and astute, the importance of community in the coaching landscape cannot be understated. Coaches must recognize the value of being among peers and benefiting from community forums, connections, and networks.
The demands of coaching, especially in high-pressure environments, can be isolating. Staying connected with other coaches for support, feedback, and camaraderie can make all the difference.
Peer coaching communities (like the Coaches Collective) allow for shared experiences, best practices, and emotional support, ensuring that coaches do not carry the mental burden of supporting athletes alone. It’s a reminder that mental health care is not only the responsibility of athletes but of those who support them, as they, too, need care and connection.
Conclusion
In this new era, the role of coaches is evolving, and with it, the need for a deeper commitment to the mental well-being and psychological soundness of athletes.
Coaches must move away from antiquated practices that dehumanize the complex and vulnerable humans working in front of them in the sport arena.
Athletes rely on their coaches to guide them toward achievement and excellence in their sport, but they also look to coaches for much more: emotional support, empathy and understanding, psychological safety, and mentorship.
And while not all coaches sign up to deliver on these items, the best coaches in the world carry some knowledge of how to blend coaching for physical performance alongside coaching for mental stability and resiliency.
Each coach must come to their sport and their athletes equipped with tools to support the whole person, not just the competitor.
References
Contreras, D., Granquist, M., & Martin, L. (2023, September 1). Stress, Sport Anxiety, Neuroticism, and Coping in Student-Athletes: Implications for Patient Mental Health. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37248524/
Sitko, S., et al. (2024, November). Sport practice and depression during adolescence: Special emphasis on performance level and sport discipline. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1440244024002500
