Stressors in elite sport: A coach perspective

Thelwell, Richard C.; Weston, Neil J. V.; Greenlees, Iain A.; Hutchings, Nicholas V.

doi:10.1080/02640410801885933

Cited by 199Sport Psychology and PerformanceStress and Burnout ResearchPhysical Education and Sports Studies

Stressors in elite sport: A coach perspective

Thelwell, Richard C., Weston, Neil J. V., Greenlees, Iain A., Hutchings, Nicholas V.·2008·Journal of Sports Sciences

DOI 10.1080/02640410801885933

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Abstract

We examined the varying performance and organizational stressors experienced by coaches who operate with elite athletes. Following interviews with eleven coaches, content analysis of the data revealed coaches to experience comparable numbers of performance and organizational stressors. Performance stressors were divided between their own performance and that of their athletes, while organizational stressors included environmental, leadership, personal, and team factors. The findings provide evidence that coaches experience a variety of stressors that adds weight to the argument that they should be labelled as "performers" in their own right. A variety of future research topics and applied issues are also discussed.

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Elite-level coaches encounter personal stressors including social isolation and relationship issues.
“Similarly, coaches are also confronted with various personal stressors, including social isolation and relationship issues [4, 6, 10–12].”
From The Mental Health of Elite-Level Coaches: A Systematic Scoping Review (2024) · cites this paper as [6]
Elite-level coaches encounter organisational challenges including long working hours, job insecurity, media scrutiny, and pressures to satisfy board/management expectations.
“On top of performance pressures, elite-level coaches also encounter multiple organisational challenges, including long working hours, job insecurity, media scrutiny and pressures to satisfy board/management expectations [1, 6–9].”
From The Mental Health of Elite-Level Coaches: A Systematic Scoping Review (2024) · cites this paper as [6]
Elite-level coaches should also be considered performers in their own right.
“researchers have proposed that elite-level coaches should also be considered as performers in their own right (e.g. competition preparation and psychological state) [5, 6].”
From The Mental Health of Elite-Level Coaches: A Systematic Scoping Review (2024) · cites this paper as [6]

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Authors: Thelwell, R. C., Weston, N. J. V., Greenlees, I. A., & Hutchings, N. V.
Affiliations: University of Portsmouth (GB)
University of Chichester (GB)
Corresponding author: Thelwell, Richard C.
ORCID: Thelwell, Richard C.
Weston, Neil J. V.
Greenlees, Iain A.
Venue: Journal of Sports Sciences
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2008-07
Volume: 26
Issue: 9
Pages: 905-918
ISSN: 0264-0414 (ISSN-L)
1466-447X
DOI: 10.1080/02640410801885933
OpenAlex: W2171438727
Cited by: 199
References: 24
Citations by year: 2026: 17 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 10
FWCI: 8.19
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Journal of Sports Sciences (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Stress and Burnout Research
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Physical Education and Sports Studies
Keywords: coach stress, organizational stressors, elite sport, coach-athlete relationship, leadership, team factors
MeSH terms: Workforce, Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Competitive Behavior, Female, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Male, Middle Aged, Physical Education and Training, Sports, Stress, Psychological

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