Sport Psychology in Action: 4-Part Article Series Connecting Research to Practice
In high school, many athletes have the mindset that winning is the only thing that matters. This mindset can be detrimental to their motivation, especially when they face challenges like not starting as a senior or losing a game even when they played their best. As a coach, you have the ability to change this mindset by creating a positive environment focused on mastery of skills that prioritizes athlete self-improvement instead of peer comparison. Research has shown that the environment, or sport climate, influences an athlete’s motivation and can be directly influenced by you (Horn, 2008).
