Research Summaries Research Summary 25 Intervention Tone and Coach | Page 4

Intervention Tone and Coach-athlete Relations

What they found – too much of a good thing
As hypothesised, the results showed that coaches had
different tones with the different groups of players. With
the High and Increasing group the rapport tone was
significantly different. Coaches had more interaction with
players about matters beyond their immediate sport
performance. This gave the impression of a more
comfortable relationship where the players were treated
as more than just a player.
The players in the Low and Decreasing group had more
interaction with the coaches, more individual attention,
and this lasted for a longer duration. The tone was a mix
of controlling, where the correct answer is known and
held by the coach, and more positive evaluation/
encouragement and discussion of mental skills.

However, the players in this group did not see the
improvement that such attention would suggest. In fact
the results of the research proved counter-intuitive.

It appears that despite the best of intentions of the
coaches (and there was no issue over the quality of their
coaching) their efforts have had the paradoxical effect of
producing a negative developmental trajectory. It turned
out this extra attention may have merely served to
reinforce athletes’ perceptions of being less skilled than
their teammates, which negatively influenced their
development.

As the researchers suggest, more of a good thing may
not always be better.