Written by When coaches treat their athletes with trust and respect, it contributes to a positive culture and climate. Coaches should not wait for certain athletes to respect and trust, rather they should trust and respect all athletes, and personnel for that matter, from their first day on the team. If a coach shows trust and respect to everyone, the athletes and team will see and feel this, will identify the trust that is instilled in them, and will replicate this with fellow athletes and the coach.
Coaches, remember that feeling you had when you were an athlete and felt like you belonged to the team? You probably thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated it, felt trusted and respected and began the same for others on the team, and focused even more on training, things that you had to learn, and performed at a higher level. All of this because a coach instilled trust and respected you as an athlete.
Respecting athletes shows that they are respected for their role as an athlete and team member (And yes, team member applies to individual sports where there is more than one athlete training together). The athlete plays a critical role on the team. In their role, athletes execute the organizational vision and mission, fulfill the coach’s expectations, and are there for their teammates when they are needed.
Trusting athletes shows that the coach trusts the athlete, regardless of their abilities. Athletes require trust from coaches, starting on their first day on the team, and must be trusted that they will fill the role of the athlete. Coaches that trust athletes enable athletes to try new things, like techniques or plays, and athletes will begin to trust themselves, teammates, and coaches when trust is instilled in themselves.
There is no downside to a coach trusting and respecting their athletes. There are truly only benefits and showing trust and respect reflects on the leadership and culture in your organization and team. As a coach, how do you treat athletes on your team?