Written by Coaches play a critical role in fostering a sense of ownership in athletes. This journey extends beyond
simply being responsible for individual performance. Instead, it encapsulates contributing to collective
success and fostering a healthy team culture (Lemyre, Trudel, & Durand-Bush, 2007). Encouraging
athletes to take ownership is a complex, yet rewarding endeavor that coaches worldwide should
consider.
It is important to recognize the power of empowerment. Empowerment involves increasing the capacity
of athletes and teams to make choices and desired actions and outcomes (Alsawaier, 2018). By
empowering athletes, coaches facilitate a sense of autonomy, confidence, and promote the
development of independent thinkers capable of making crucial decisions. Coaches must emphasize the
power of choice, thereby influencing athletes to feel responsible for their outcomes.
Fostering an environment of trust and respect is integral. This environment serves as a bedrock for
collective responsibility and expression. This type of culture promotes open communication and bonding
between athletes, instilling a sense of belonging and camaraderie within the team (Gearity & Murray,
2011).
One aspect of fostering a safe environment is embracing mistakes. Coaches should encourage athletes to
adopt a growth mindset, viewing mistakes as opportunities for improvement rather than catastrophic
setbacks. This perspective instills resilience and cultivates an ethos of continuous learning, which is
integral for taking ownership.
Involving athletes in goal-setting is key. When athletes are part of the process, they are more likely to
commit and hold themselves accountable for those goals. When athletes hold themselves accountable
for goals, they will translate this, influence, and motivate teammates to achieve these same goals.
Fostering a sense of ownership in athletes requires a multifaceted approach, involving empowerment,
creation of a safe environment, promotion of a growth mindset, and participation in goal-setting. It may
be a challenging journey, but it is a rewarding endeavor, contributing not only to athletes’ sporting
careers but also to their personal development.
References:
Alsawaier, R. S. (2018). The effect of gamification on motivation and engagement. The International
Journal of Information and Learning Technology, 35(1), 56-79.
Gearity, B. T., & Murray, M. A. (2011). Athletes’ experiences of the psychological effects of poor coaching.
Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 12(3), 213-221.
Lemyre, P.-N., Trudel, P., & Durand-Bush, N. (2007). How youth-sport coaches learn to coach. The Sport
Psychologist, 21(2), 191-209.