A gentler approach to coaching

A recent report on the ScienceDaily highlights new insights into the role environment plays in the development of young athletes. Entitled "Focus on Self-Improvement, rather than winning, benefits young athletes," the report writes, "Underserved youth athletes report more life skill and character development when their coaches place greater emphasis on creating caring climates instead of focusing on competition, according to research from Michigan State University's Institute for the Study of Youth Sports."

At its root, the study, led by Daniel Gould and Larry Lauer of MSU, and Ryan Flett of West Virginia University, found that the environment established by a coach could have pronounced effects on the pyschological and emotional development of young athletes, both positively and negatively. As the report writes,"...the more coaches create caring and tasked-oriented climates, the more likely positive developmental gains will occur. Creating an 'ego climate' was found to be the single most powerful predictor of negative youth experiences."

Practically defined, an "ego climate" is an environment in which the primary focus is "beating others," an approach the study found,"...was associated with negative developmental outcomes such as negative peer influences and inappropriate adult behaviors."

The study points toward a gentler approach to coaching, particularly (but I would suggest, not exclusively) with youth. For many people, sport is a valuable activity in which physical development can often be accompanied by mental and emotional growth. As this study suggests, however, sport can also reinforce and cultivate ego-oriented emotional states that may or may not cause athletes considerable problems later in life. It would seem that, just as a physical body can be overtrained, an ego-oriented mental approach can also be overcooked. And much like with overtraining (discussed here), the study cited above suggests that the negative effects of this "ego climate" can last a long time.

While the pressure in some circles for results in sport is great, coaches should keep these things in mind. At the end of the day, no one benefits from an overtrained or overly-egotistical athlete. People vary in their beliefs on this matter, but I believe sport should have a wholesome influence on those who engage in it, helping them lead happier, healthier lives. For young people in particular, sport also seems to offer a way of learning about themselves and others as they mature and grow up, pointing to ways in which cooperation, friendship, and human kindness may be fostered as adults. Others may disagree, but I see no excess of these qualities in adults of my own time; there's room for more if more might be found. Good coaching may prove valuable in this regard. Something to consider perhaps.

Happy Tuesday, friends :)