Learn how to connect with each person and understand their wants and needs
Why do I need to know about relationships?
Coaches work with a wide range of people who have different motivations and experiences. Your role is to connect with each person, understand their wants and needs, and support them on their journey, whatever their role and level of experience.
Communication is the 'oxygen' in relationships, keeping them full of life and healthy. To establish a relationship, you need to take the time to connect and listen to the individual. Everyone wants to be listened to and feel valued and cared for.
By understanding who they are, what they want to achieve and what is important to them, you can gain the opportunity to explain what you expect as a coach and discuss what is important to you. These are valuable boundaries to establish.
Importantly, you need to consider the age and stage of the groups and the individuals at your sessions, as, naturally, a discussion with an U8 hockey team won't be the same as a conversation with a women's couch to 5K run group. That said, the principles remain the same.
Once you have developed a connection, you can begin to enhance the relationship and truly understand one another. This involves building knowledge of what they enjoy and what drives their commitment, and will be unique to everyone. These are the foundations for a strong coach-athlete relationship, but also will have an impact on the way you communicate, how often you connect, and the long-term establishment of collective goals.
Once you have a solid relationship, you will find that you have created an environment of openness, regular communication and trust, which will enable you and your participants to thrive and develop.
Challenges and inevitable and won't vanish even in the face of a great relationship, but if you operate under the key principles of honesty, connection and open communication, you will be able to easily overcome each challenge, reduce conflict and disagreement and move forward as a 'team' with shared goals and understanding.
Below, discover the pillars of this theme to aid your understanding of relationships. You'll also find UK Coaching Club membership details with which you can unlock access to the resources of the Coach Learning Framework.
Positive Relationships
Consider how you can show a genuine interest in each participant as a person, and develop effective bonds and a sense of loyalty
Building Your Networks
Learn about building a network of people who are like-minded, challenge your thinking, and add insight and value to your coaching
Crucial Conversations
Learn how to face and handle crucial conversations about topics including selection, dropping players, injuries, transitions, and negative behaviours
Effective Communication
Consider the importance of being an authentic communicator and how the ability to meet the individual's needs will help you get the most from your relationships
UK Coaching Club
As a UK Coaching Club Member, you'll be able to dive into the essentials of each theme for free. This includes the insightful 9-theme 'Guides', engaging 'Coaching Conversations', and our 'Kickstarters' designed to get your coaching off to a flying start.
Framework Guide
With this comprehensive guide, you'll gain an understanding of the key concepts behind developing and maintaining great coaching relationships, key to success in coaching
READ THE GUIDE
Coaching Conversations
Watch coaches share their lived experiences, offering real-life examples and strategies to help you immediately grasp the theme of ‘relationships’ and master the art of having crucial conversations
WATCH THE VIDEOS
Kickstarter
Download activities that invite you to reflect, consider, and try out new approaches that will help you form a strong connection with each person and understand their unique wants and needs
DOWNLOAD THE ACTIVITIESUK Coaching Club Premium Membership
Coach Learning 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.