PCA Voices
Concepts shared from research by Lori A. Gano-Overway, PhD, CMPC, and PCA National Advisory Board Member
There is a good amount of research out there from a coach’s perspective on what he/she feels creates a caring and positive environment in sports. This new research, however, takes a look at the perspective of former high school athletes and outlines their experiences with coaches, and their takeaways on what stood out as important aspects of past coaches who created a caring environment that influenced not only their sports experience but in many cases, their life as a whole.
Support & Encourage Athletes
Coaches who take the time to pull players aside individually
to discuss a players’ potential and to give them recognition of their
efforts feel seen and supported.
Develop Meaningful Connections
Coaches who create a caring sports community, including developing community norms and values based on caring, promoting inclusion and acceptance, developing harmony and solidarity, and engaging in consensus building and shared decision making, are perceived as creating a more caring and motivating environment.
Create a Caring Community on the Team
Balance Effort & Improvement with Caring