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Understanding Relationships

This is one of nine themes that comprise the Coach Learning Framework.

Understanding Relationships

Coaching is a people business, an interaction between individuals to help them progress, grow and develop. To maximise your coaching and skills, you first need to improve your coaching relationships

Read our guide to understanding relationships

Building Positive Relationships

Building Successful Relationships: Understanding the Whole Person

Consider how to build a welcoming environment, establish mutual trust and respect and ensure you are 'on the same page' with your participants

INFOGRAPHIC

Questions and Connections to Build Rapport Quickly

Explore important factors to consider when moving to a new club or when welcoming new participants to your sessions, to help establish trust and respect

EXPERT OPINION

Behaviour Change: Connecting with Others

Social connections can improve physical health and psychological well-being. Learn ways to help people connect with each other, an important strategy in supporting behaviour change

TIPS

Curious Coaches' Club: Coach, Parent and Athlete Relationships

Explore the impact of building positive relationships with parents and the effect on athletes

WEBINAR

A Guide to Getting to Know Your Participants’ Parents

Consider how you can become better acquainted with the parents of the people you coach and how they can help you deliver better experiences

GUIDE

Building Positive Relationships with Parents

Consider how you can build a harmonious relationship with parents and avoid unnecessary conflict with insight from Gordon MacLelland

GUIDE

Talking Talent: How to Work Effectively with Parents

Discover insight and research findings on working with parents from Anne Pankhurst

VIDEO

Communicating with Parents

Consider the value of regular communication with Gordon MacLelland, based on his experience of working with parents

PODCAST

Connecting With Your Participants

Principles of Great Coaching: Engaging

Discover how you can further develop your coaching behaviours and make use of your personal and people skills

VIDEO

Building Successful Coach-Athlete Relationships

Discover four key building blocks for great coach-athlete relationships, laying out the journey for coach and participant

INFOGRAPHIC

Understanding the Coach-Athlete Relationship

Consider how harmony between coach and participant is the best route to success with Dr. Sophia Jowett

EXPERT OPINION

Emotional Intelligence: The Secret Coaching Ingredient

Find out why emotional intelligence is a key part of sports psychology and how you can use it to build relationships and improve performance

EXPERT OPINION

Why Mastering The Coach-Athlete Relationship is Important

Learn why great coaches focus on relationships with Professor Sophia Jowett

WEBINAR

Coaching the Person in Front of You: The Key to Helping Your Participants Thrive

Consider how the more time you take to understand your participants, the more you will help them flourish

GUIDE

Coaching Key to Helping Young People Choose Life and Ditch the Knife

Discover the power of coaching as an effective tool to tackle crime and knife culture

STORY

How to Build Stronger Relationships with Your Athletes

Discover the four 'key dimensions' of a good quality coach-athlete relationship and questions to help you reflect

EXPERT OPINION

Coach-Athlete Interactions: What to Watch Out For

Consider evidence-based insight into how behaviour and tone can have a negative impact on performance

GUIDE

Crucial Conversations

Behaviour Change: Providing Meaningful Feedback

Explore quick tips on using feedback as a strategy to change behaviour

TIPS

Honest Conversations: Making Your Feedback Count

Find out more about giving advice and feedback and how to ensure that it is heard and counts

WEBINAR

Conflict Management

Explore techniques including steps you can take to de-escalate a destructive conflict situation

GUIDE

Crucial Conversations

Consider the importance of having the difficult conversations at the right time and the value of laying the foundations

PODCAST

How to Cushion the Blow of Delivering Bad News

Discover techniques that will help take the sting out of hearing tough feedback

TIPS

When Dads Go Bad: Tackling Misbehaving Parents

Find out how best to engage with meddling mums and disrespectful dads to improve the coaching experience for everyone

EXPERT OPINION

The Importance of Quality Coaching Conversations in Anti-doping

Explore the value of the coach-athlete relationship and supporting your participants to make better-informed decisions and choices

GUIDE

Building Your Networks

Curious Coaches' Club: Learning Socially

Consider the practical application of social learning, communities of practice and socially supportive learning environments

WEBINAR

Getting Some Support for Your Coaching

Learn about how getting someone else to help you can be one of the best ways to support yourself as a coach

EXPERT OPINION

Being the Best Version of You: The Coach’s Transition

Consider advice and strategies to help you with your own transitions, including finding opportunities to learn from other coaches

GUIDE

Curious Coaches' Club: Growing and Utilising Your Network

Explore ideas for growing your network and utilising it to maximise your potential

WEBINAR

5 Top Tips for Starting Up a Community of Practice

Consider the impact of communities of practice on coach learning and development

INFOGRAPHIC

Lean on Me: How Mentors Can Provide Support and Aid Progress

Consider the positive impact of mentoring in facilitating development

TIPS

The More Knowledgeable Other

Consider the different ways that you can learn from others

WEBINAR

Understanding the Coach Developer

Explore how a coach developer can help you reach your potential

EXPERT OPINION

Planning and Hosting Great Parents’ Meetings

Explore key considerations when planning, a template for planning or to offer to parents and an idea for a game to use during meetings

INFOGRAPHIC

Effective Communication

Ten Steps to Better Communication with the People You Coach

Explore top tips to improve communication with your participants

TIPS

Listening vs Understanding: Solutions for Effective Communication

Learn to diagnose and minimise communication problems

EXPERT OPINION

Communication and Coaching

Explore how understanding your own communication style and your participants' preferences can impact on your coaching effectiveness

GUIDE

Communication: A Matter of Preference

Consider whether there is a one-size-fits-all approach to communication

GUIDE

Using Your Compass: Staying on the Right Pathway with Your Athletes

Identify and explore strategies and tactics to help you navigate the coach-athlete journey

GUIDE

A Process for Clear Communication: Getting Your Message Across

Consider your approach to delivering key messages and how you can ensure better understanding

EXPERT OPINION

Offering Less Instruction Key to Developing Independent Athletes

Consider why offering feedback and instruction is key to coaching

EXPERT OPINION

Effective Communication: Coaching People with a Learning Disability

Explore practical tips for including people with learning difficulties in your coaching sessions

TIPS

What Makes an Effective Communication Strategy?

Consider how frequently you communicate with parents and what methods will work best depending on the type of information being imparted

INFOGRAPHIC

WhatsUp with Apps? Tech Tools for Coaches

Consider coaching and communication apps and how you can get the best out of them

EXPERT OPINION

Technology and Communication – a Recipe for Disaster?

Consider how much the brain needs real human interaction

EXPERT OPINION

Coach Learning Framework

The Coach Learning Framework has been created to help you design memorable and engaging great coaching experiences that meet the needs of all your participants, regardless of your sport or physical activity.

Understanding Relationships is one of nine themes that comprise this insight-based framework.

Continue your journey through the framework to learn more about the other eight themes and the key attributes of high-quality coaching environments, and how you can demonstrate the skills, qualities and behaviours that will empower the people you coach to achieve their personal goals.