BY KAYLA GATES
Coaches play a critical role in the lives of athletes. Their instruction allows individuals to develop both physically and emotionally. However, the unclear line between strict coaching and abuse makes it easy to overstep.
As athletic instructors, coaches are encouraged to provide feedback to their trainees. Although some coaches focus on maintaining a positive response by rewarding or encouraging athletes who perform well, others take a more controversial approach, utilizing harsh attitudes to better motivate and shape players.
Researchers have described this strategy as “negative coaching.” Facing punishment and criticism, the player’s brain is forced to adapt to the psychological pressure it is under. While temporarily effective, the severe nature of this coaching strategy can have lasting impacts on an individual.
Studies have shown that when stress levels increase, often caused by a pressure to succeed, performance drops as a result. Although additional pressure can be prompted by family members and peers, coaches usually foster a vast majority of the stress athletes endure.
Excessive negative coaching can take a toll on an athlete’s mental health.
Avoidance of unnecessary rigor is critical, as an athlete’s self-perception is often influenced by the feedback they receive. Excessive negative coaching can take a toll on an athlete’s mental health. The psychological abuse that some experience, whether intentional or accidental, can induce symptoms such as low self-esteem, aggressive behavior and anxiety.
“Mental toughness is difficult in sports,” head of the CCHS physical education department Jill Smitherman said. “A state of depression usually sets in when an athlete feels useless.”
Despite their overwhelming influence on players, coaches are not entirely responsible for harm to their mental health. Students face a variety of issues off the field that coaches may not be aware of. Whether it be family, financial or social pressure, an athlete’s personal life can wear down their mental state. This exhaustion often carries over into training, altering an individual’s reception to instruction and their overall performance. A lack of awareness on the issues athletes face off the field might prevent a coach from reaching out and the player’s fragile condition leaves them more vulnerable to any criticism.
With these concerns in mind, it is crucial for athletic instructors to consider an athlete and their personal life before selecting a coaching approach. A healthy relationship between a coach and a player benefits both the individual and the team as a whole.
“Coaches take individual athletes and put them together as a team. They are supposed to believe in you even when no one else does, both on and off the field.”
“I think it’s important to have someone to give you directions and guidance,” freshman and CCHS volleyball player Mariana Jimenez said. “Especially when it’s someone like [my] coach who gets along with players so well.”
Coaches’ criticism is an inevitable aspect of playing a sport. However, the mistakes of a few do not mean that criticism can’t be constructive and respectful. There are countless others who work hard to build and maintain a comfortable atmosphere for their players’ benefit.
Athletic instructors are directly linked to the performance of athletes. With some light shed on the consequences of negative coaching, more are being encouraged to utilize positive strategies. Coaches will continue to have a lasting impact on the lives of athletes, whether it be for better or for worse.
“Coaches take individual athletes and put them together as a team,” sophomore and soccer player Ashley Ferrelli said. “They are supposed to believe in you even when no one else does, both on and off the field.”
Photo by Anabella Garcia
