Labours of Sport Coaching: The Science and Art of Coaching, Motivation, and Self-Determination

• Mixing high relatedness with coach control - Elisa Lefever

  Sign up to my FREE motivational psychology newsletter:Subscribe| Labours of Sport Coaching - The Self-Determined CoachIf a coach is controlling but shows high relatedness towards an athlete, does the relatedness buffer the control? Not quite, it turns out. In this episode I chat to Elisa Lefever, Doctoral Assistant at Gent University, about the intriguing cautionary findings of a recent paper determining the interacting impacts of coach control and relatedness on athlete performance, anxiety, burnout, and engagement. Paper discussed:Lefever, E., Flamant, N., Morbée, S., Soenens, B., Vansteenkiste, M., Ntoumanis, N., & Haerens, L. (2025). Does a closer coach-athlete bond buffer or exacerbate the detrimental effects of controlling coaching on athletes’ coping and outcomes?. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 20(1), 56-69.Learn more about your host and access my services:https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/ Connect with me on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjcarrollresearcher/

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• The information fallacy in coach behaviour change

  Sign up to my FREE motivational psychology newsletter:Subscribe| Labours of Sport Coaching - The Self-Determined Coach Learning more about what you should do as a coach should directly help improve your behaviour, right? Not quite. More information on your what, without knowing you why and how, leads to frustration for coaches, their organisation, and propagates a false formula that sets coaches up to fail. Coaches are increasingly audited and sold monitoring products that don't fix their behavioural problems. This is wrong. My PhD research taught my that information is the start line, but understanding yourself and your surroundings better is critical for putting in place meaningful training and support that lead to real change (if change is even what should be targeted). Listen in and I'll talk you through - just don't think this information is useful without taking further steps!If you enjoy this episode, I suggest checking out this other episode too:Why effective coaching needs reflexivityFeedback if LoSC impacts your practice: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/rJEqYsDpCmBecome a patron: https://shorturl.at/QgMCFVisit website: https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/Connect with me on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjcarrollresearcher/

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• Supporting coaches' psychological needs

  Sign up to my FREE motivational psychology newsletter:Subscribe| Labours of Sport Coaching - The Self-Determined CoachThis episode explores the psychological needs of coaches in sport, prioritising coaches' own sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. I discusses how these needs impact coaches' performance and their inclination towards supporting athletes' needs by extension. As coaches we are performers and people in our own right, deserving of feeling empowered, effective, and connected. A listen for coaches, coaching teams, and operational leadership alike to consider the interaction of coach and athlete support to achieve positive outcomes.Chapters00:00 The Psychological Needs of Coaches02:50 The Role of Autonomy in Coaching06:11 Competence and Its Importance for Coaches09:04 The Significance of Relatedness in Coaching12:09 Creating a Supportive Coaching Environment14:59 The Impact of Coach Need Support on Athlete Need Support21:09 The Interconnection of Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness24:07 The Importance of Community Among Coaches27:12 Long-term Development and Career Pathways for CoachesLearn more about your host and access my services:https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/ Connect with me on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjcarrollresearcher/

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• Merging psychology and footballing actions, with Dadi Rafnsson

  Sign up to my FREE motivational psychology newsletter:Subscribe | Labours of Sport Coaching - The Self-Determined CoachIn this episode I chat with Dadi Rafnsson about his latest research working with football clubs to establish a position specific 5 Cs psychosocial language for football coaches and players to use to tangibly bring psychology alive, as a precursor to nurturing their psychosocial development in training and on matchdays. Coaches have a massive part to play in unlocking the developmental potential of psychology in young athletes, and this latest development is a key next steps to realising our potential. I'm currently supervising a PhD project wherein establishing a bespoke psychosocial player profile for an academy forms the first part of this mission, taking massive inspiration from Dadi's work.Paper discussed:Rafnsson, D., Harwood, C., Steptoe, K., Matthíasdóttir, Á., Sveinbjörnsdóttir, B., & Kristjánsdóttir, H. (2025). Enhancing Role Clarity in Youth Football: Applying the 5Cs to Role Descriptions by Position. International Sport Coaching Journal, 1, 1-13.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Psychosocial Profiling in Football01:25:31 The Role of Coaches in Psychological Development01:28:29 Understanding the Five Cs Framework01:31:20 Practical Applications of Psychosocial Skills01:34:21 Developing a Common Language for Coaches and Players01:37:15 Measuring Psychosocial Behaviors in Training01:40:13 Integrating Psychology into Daily Training01:43:05 The Importance of Context in Coaching01:46:28 Commitment and Its Impact on Performance01:49:08 Creating a Supportive Environment for Development01:52:24 Accountability and Communication in Coaching01:55:27 Future Directions in Psychosocial Training02:05:12 Systematic vs. Organic Coaching Approaches02:08:04 The Role of Emotional Control in Youth Development02:10:45 Lessons from the Project02:13:47 Engaging Parents in Youth Sports02:16:55 Position-Specific vs. General Player Development02:22:42 Cultural Influences on Coaching and Player Development02:29:00 Balancing Performance and Psychosocial Development02:40:43 Integrating Psychology into Coaching PracticesLearn more about your host and access my services:https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/ Connect with me on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjcarrollresearcher/

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• Athlete autonomy isn't real! BITESIZE KNOWLEDGE

  Sign up to my FREE motivational psychology newsletter:Subscribe | Labours of Sport Coaching - The Self-Determined CoachIn this short episode I tackle the conundrum of advocating for athletes' autonomy within the coaching process, when the coaching process is orchestrated - and controlled - by the coach. Even when it feels like athlete choice, it’s ultimately about the coach’s agenda, right? Exploring this argument thought pokes fun at dogmatism in the context of athlete centred coaching, while simultaneously reminding autonomy supportive coaching cynics that coaches still have a duty to AIM for autonomy within their relationship with athletes. Regardless of the fragile validity of athlete autonomy in coaching.TakeawaysAutonomy support in coaching is complex and paradoxical.Control in coaching isn't inherently negative.True autonomy may not be fully achievable in coaching.Coaches always hold power and control over athletes.Autonomy support should be structured and guided, not absolute freedom.Influence is a natural part of the coaching relationship.Effective coaching involves nurturing athlete agency while taking control.Coaches should reflect on contradictions within their own philosophies.If you enjoy this episode, I suggest you check out these other episodes too:Reframing motivation with SDTAutonomy supportive coaching 101The hidden dimension of motivational coach behaviourLearn more about your host and access my services:https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/Support the show by becoming a patron:https://labours-of-sport.captivate.fm/supportConnect with me on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjcarrollresearcher/

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