What role does the coach play in developing athletes, and what Essay

What role does the coach play in developing athletes, and what importance does the Coach Athlete relationship have on performance - Essay Example The importance of the â€Å"coach-athlete† relationship on performance will also be discussed. Being a facilitator, a coach should ensure that an athlete is focused on improved performance. A coach should create the right conditions that will allow athletes to concentrate on improving their performance (Balague, 1999). Athletes need not be stressed by challenges that may be present in their professional life. They need to concentrate on how they will improve their performance. Concentration is crucial in the success of an athlete’s career. It is the role of the coach to create an environment that will make it easy for athletes to focus on performance (Huber, 2013). Coaches need to eliminate all possible distractions. This phenomenon is psychological in nature because an athlete will hardly concentrate if there are issues that are making it difficult for him to concentrate (Jowett & Chaundy, 2004). It is necessary for a coach to remain focused on his job as a coach. When he concentrates on his roles as a coach, he is able to execute them easily, thus maximizing the potential of the athlete. The coach needs to be in the right state of mind and focus on the athlete. The coach should concentrate on the wellbeing of the athlete (Jowett & Cockerill, 2003). A coach is an athlete’s manager. Control is a crucial in management. As a manager, a coach should have control over the athlete (Jowett, 2003). Control is the ability of the coach to direct, regulate, check, manage and positively influence an athlete. The coach has to make the athlete know that he is in control as his mentor and role model. If the coach is able to control the athlete, the athlete will have a positive attitude towards his own training and performance. Control entails a coach’s authority over an athlete. A coach should let his authority be felt so that the athlete can respect and adhere to the rules set by the coach (Kidman, 2005). As a planner,