ABSTRACT
Sporting success is strongly related to the psychological aspects of sport, not merely physical training and natural ability (Iso-Ahola, 1995) and there are many different psychological aspects of sport that influence athletes' experiences. One of the most influential factors is the coach—athlete relationship. This relationship is decisive in competitive sport as it impacts on athlete satisfaction, self-esteem, and performance (Jowett and Cockerill, 2003; Jowett and Meek, 2000; Philippe and Seiler, 2006). For some athletes, the coach—athlete relationship shapes their entire sport experience and has a profound impact on the quality of both practice and athletic performance during competitions (Poczwardowski et al., 2002).
