The best coaches don’t just build skill—they build thriving humans. When athletes’ basic psychological needs are supported, then motivation, confidence, and well-being naturally follow.

Here’s Jill Ellis (U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team), describing her coaching philosophy:

“Empower your players. When they feel ownership, they’ll play with belief.”

How Can Coaches Best Empower their Athletes?

Research in sport psychology, including a 2022 study by Mossman and colleagues, shows that three needs are essential for athletes to thrive: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. How coaches respond to these needs can either strengthen an athlete’s motivation and well-being or slowly chip away at it.

1. What is Autonomy?  

Athletes are most engaged when they feel they have a voice in their development. If you are a coach, supporting athletes’ autonomy doesn’t you must give up structure—it means you are inviting choice and collaboration. When autonomy is blocked by rigid control or constant correction, athletes often lose engagement and passion for the sport.

Try this: Ask for athlete input, explain the “why” behind drills, and use language that invites effort rather than demands compliance. 

2. What is Competence?  

Everyone wants to feel capable and effective. Coaches can nurture competence by setting clear goals, celebrating small wins, and framing mistakes as part of learning. Overly harsh or vague criticism, on the other hand, can erode confidence and lead to performance anxiety.

Try this: Offer specific, constructive feedback to help your athlete grow. Use step-by-step progressions and recognize improvement and effort, not just results.

3. What is Relatedness?  

Athletes perform best when they feel valued as people, not just performers. That sense of belonging gives athletes the safety to take risks, recover from mistakes, and push their limits.

Try this: Take time to build genuine relationships—showing care, respect, and curiosity— this will lead to a climate of trust.

When these three psychological needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—are supported, athletes develop intrinsic motivation and self-determined extrinsic motivation: they work hard because they want to, not because they have to.

The best coaches don’t just build stronger athletes—they help build stronger, more self-driven people. Supporting these core needs is where impactful coaching—and true transformation—begin.

Want to help your athletes thrive and unlock your coaching superpower? Contact Dr. Luna Ugrenović at luna@greenepsych.com to get started.