ABSTRACT
The notion that coaches have as much power as this quotation suggests can be quite foreign to coaches and athletes, but true. Power is a word that conjures up many negative images, but by creating and communicating a coaching philosophy, power can be exercised in a sincere, meaningful way (Jones & Standage, 2006). Coaches have the power to help athletes reach their goals by providing positive experiences and ensuring physical and emotional safety (Cassidy & Potrac, 2006). They have the power to increase and maintain integrity in sport through their actions and words. Coaches’ actions determine the influence of their power because they have the potential to be
a definer, creator, provider, deliverer, and facilitator of a positive sporting experience (Nakamura, 1996). This power is reflected through coaches’ personal beliefs, values, principles, and priorities which are the basis for their behaviour. Coaches can influence whether athletes’ experiences are full of frustration or satisfaction and whether they experience success or failure (Jones et al., 2004). As Cassidy et al. (2009) suggested, the power constructs of the coach-athlete relationship are important to consider when developing a coaching philosophy (see box for Recent Research on elite rowers’ perceptions of their coaches).
