When athletes step onto the field, court, or strip, their performance is influenced by far more than drills and conditioning. A growing body of research highlights something less visible but just as powerful: psychological safety.
A new study by Ender Şenel, Sophia Jowett, İlhan Adiloğulları, and Renzo Kerr-Cumbo, published in the International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, explores how coach behaviors and the quality of coach–athlete relationships shape psychological safety in sport.
What Is Psychological Safety?
Psychological safety is the belief that your environment is safe for interpersonal risk-taking — the confidence to speak up, admit mistakes, or try new strategies without fear of humiliation or punishment. In sport, this can mean:
Testing New Tactics
A fencer trying a new parry-riposte combination in practice without worrying about being criticized.
Asking Questions
An athlete admitting they don't fully understand a footwork drill.
Sharing Concerns
A fencer feeling free to discuss pre-competition nerves or tactical doubts.
Supportive vs. Controlling Coaching
The study examined two main categories of coach behaviors:
Supportive Behaviors
- Giving athletes autonomy
- Offering constructive feedback
- Acknowledging progress
- Building connection
Controlling Behaviors
- Pressuring toward specific outcomes
- Using criticism that undermines confidence
- Dictating every move
The Mediating Role of Relationships
Perhaps the most important finding was that the quality of the coach–athlete relationship mediates these effects.
Strong Relationships
Enhanced the positive impact of supportive behaviors and softened the negative impact of controlling behaviors.
Protective Effect
Even when coaches are demanding, athletes who feel respected and connected experience less harm to their psychological safety.
Why It Matters
For Coaches
How you communicate matters as much as what you teach. Supportive behaviors build safe environments, and strong relationships magnify their effect.
For Athletes
You play a role too. By investing in healthy relationships with your coaches, you can help co-create a safe and resilient training environment.
For Parents & Organizations
Athlete well-being isn't just about physical safety. Asking whether a program fosters psychological safety is essential for long-term development.
Practical Takeaways
Coach Education
Focus on building awareness of how supportive vs. controlling behaviors impact athlete well-being.
Athlete Education
Include communication and relationship skills to strengthen coach–athlete bonds.
Organizations
Prioritize environments where trust, respect, and openness are non-negotiable — aligning with global initiatives like the IOC's Mental Health Action Plan.
Final Word
The study underscores a vital truth: psychological safety is co-created. Coaches set the tone with their behaviors, but athletes strengthen it through the quality of their relationships. Together, they build the trust, confidence, and openness that fuel growth, resilience, and peak performance.
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