Coaches

In sport, coaches and athletes work closely together and often form long-term, mutually dependent relationships. The manner in which coaches and athletes interact can have a profound impact upon the effectiveness of their training sessions. Their relationship may directly of indirectly influence such factors as personal satisfaction, enjoyment, motivation, and performance. the aim of this chapter is to provide a critical overview of this area with explicit focus on the 3+1 Cs conceptual model. This chapter will define the coach-athlete relationship and provide an overview of how this relationship has been conceptualised. Moreover, aspects that may potentially contribute to developing the quality and effectiveness of coach-athlete relationships will be discussed. Finally, practical methods for developing and maintaining a harmonious relationship will be examined.