Psychology in Sports Coaching

The fourth edition of Psychology in Sports Coaching continues to clearly and accessibly introduce the principles and practice of sports psychology in the context of the coaching process. Drawing on the latest research and theory, this book provides the psychological tools and techniques that coaches can use to get the best performances out of their athletes. The most effective coaches understand the fundamentals of sports psychology, which include interacting effectively with athletes, creating the optimal environment, assessing the psychological needs of their athletes, and providing them with the mental training required to maximise performance. This fully revised and updated edition provides information about embedding psychological principals within coaching practice. It includes five new chapters on psychological safety, coach mental health, how coaches can become more effective leaders, how coaches can give effective team talks, and coach behaviour. It also offers step-by-step guidance on key topics such as facilitating awareness through goal-setting and performance profiling; coaching specialist populations effectively; reducing favourable attitudes towards doping; developing effective coach-athlete relationships; reducing choking under pressure; mindfulness techniques; and mental imagery. Every chapter contains useful features to aid learning and understanding, including in-depth case studies, critical thinking questions, clear and concise summaries, and practice exam questions. Psychology in Sports Coaching is essential for any student of sports coaching or practising coach looking to extend and develop their skills, and useful applied reading for students of sports psychology.

Adam R. Nicholls is based in the School of Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Hull, United Kingdom. He teaches a variety of modules relating to sports psychology and incorporating sports psychology within coaching practice. His primary research is related to stress, appraisal, coping, and doping among athletes. Prof Nicholls is a Registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist with the Health, Care, and Professions Council. He currently serves as an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Psychology and sits on the International Journal of Sport Psychology editorial board.

PART 1 Providing sport psychology training as a coach and mental health among athletes 1 Dos and don'ts for coaches who provide sport psychology to their athletes: ethics, referrals, and the HCPC 2 Mental health disorders and symptoms among athletes PART 2 Facilitating awareness 3 Goal setting 4 Performance profiling PART 3 Coaching different populations and providing psychological support to athletes with various needs 5 Coaching children 6 Coaching adolescents 7 Coaching adults 8 Coaching athletes with learning disabilities and neurodevelopmental disorders 9 Providing psychological support to an injured athlete PART 4 Relationships, support, and influence within coaching practice 10 The coach-athlete relationship 11 Understanding and building team cohesion 12 Socially supporting athletes effectively 13 Creating the optimal motivational climate 14 Promoting anti-doping attitudes among athletes 15 Developing athlete leaders 16 Psychological safety 17 Managing perfectionistic tendencies among athletes PART 5 Mental skills training for athletes 18 Mental imagery 19 Coping effectiveness training 20 Generating challenge states 21 Mindfulness-based stress reduction training 22 Preventing choking under pressure in sport PART 6 The coach 23 Coach mental health 24 How to be a more effective leader 25 How to give effective team speeches 26 Applying self-determination theory and research to enhance coaching practice 27 Maltreatment and abusive coaching practices 28 Trauma-informed coaching