Do you think your coach is always stopping you and not caring about what's best for you? Working with a toxic coach or overly critical coach can be an intense and often disheartening experience for athletes.
If you're an athlete with a toxic coach, don't worry. If you have a bad coach as an athlete, don't worry. You can still perform well and have a good time.
Find ways to handle the situation and make the most of your abilities. Even if things aren't perfect, you can still succeed and enjoy yourself.
In fact, there are sport psychology strategies that you can employ to help you perform at your best and teach you how to deal with a toxic coach.
This blog post will discuss strategies for athletes and parents to handle challenging coaching styles without impeding their development.
A Toxic Coach Can Impact Your Performance in a Big Way
Being part of a team suffering from a toxic coach can deal a serious blow to yourself and your performance.
It's not just your physical game that takes a hit, but your mental health, too.
How you respond to their negativity can have a ripple effect on your mindset and habits.
Playing for a toxic coach can be rough. When they single you out and yell at you for every mistake you make, it's easy to start fearing failure.
You feel anxious when you go to practices and games.
This is because you worry about what people might say or shout at you.
Suddenly, you're playing timidly and scared to slip up again, and here’s your downward spiral-
You start questioning yourself.
Research has shown Toxic Coaching of Collegiate Student Athletes Burnout Mediates the Relation between School Sport Conflict and Commitment that poor coaching and negative feedback can affect confidence.
If you want to build confidence, seeing yourself succeed is crucial.
It's hard to remember your successes when your coach only criticizes you in a mean or sarcastic way.
You also start losing the love of the game and your passion for a sport.
Why?
If practices and games become burdensome and fill you with fear and anxiety, your interest in the game may diminish.
You might begin to feel overwhelmed and stressed by the demands of practices and games.
This could lead to a loss of enthusiasm and passion for the game. Many athletes lose their love for the game when they play under toxic coaches. Now, losing your passion for something that once filled your life with joy is the worst.
And remember, everything started with the fear of failure.
But here's the thing:
Failure isn't the enemy.
It's a stepping stone to success.
So don't let a lousy coach discourage you. Rise above their negativity and keep pushing towards your goals. You've got this!
Easier said than done?
Not really. There are some strategies you can learn and implement. Read on!
You Are The One Who Can Decide
As an athlete, you sometimes wish you could change your coach by magic by snapping your fingers.
But sadly, things do not work that way. And the way your coach behaves is not something that is under your control.
The good news is that something is within your control - how you respond and the decisions you consciously make.
Indeed, you have complete control over yourself! Your coach may not change, but the way you respond can.
Think about it and go back to what we explained about failure and the downward spiral.
It's your response that truly influences the negative implications we have listed earlier, not the coach.
So, it's your reaction that matters, not the coach's method or coaching style or their approach to you.
Understanding this is a vital concept that will preserve your mental health because you are the one that decides for yourself.
And you can summarize your choice by either:
Leaving the team and finding a new one
Staying and learning how to navigate relationships
Stop practicing the sport you love
There is no right or wrong answer, and what matters is what you decide for yourself.
In some circumstances and for multiple reasons, there may be no other team around that you can easily join.
Therefore, you have two choices and why should you sacrifice the sport you love?
Hence, don't let a toxic coach dictate your love for the sport.
Instead, remember this-
You Are In Control
Remember what we said?
Your thoughts control what you can do and how you feel, which affects your performance. It holds true when dealing with a toxic coach.
If you allow your coach to, they can harm your mental health, even if they are mean and bullying. Therefore, it is essential not to let their negativity control you and your life. To do that, adopt a self-talk routine to refocus and reprogram your thoughts.
For every negative word you hear from them or thoughts you have about yourself, develop a list with positive alternatives. For example:
“You always miss” becomes “I will score”
“You are too slow” becomes “I will get that ball”
Get it?
Having a positive mindset can change your perspective. By consistently practicing this, you will be better equipped to accomplish your goals.
Why is it important?
Negative self-image and self-talk are the combustion material for failing if you let them become rampant in your mind.
If you break with that pattern and replace negativity with positivity, you open yourself up to success.
Therefore, having positive thoughts about yourself and your game is essential. Establish routines to help you anchor these positive thoughts like a tune you cannot get out of your mind.
It is how you establish self-confidence.
Stay Away From The Idea of Perfection
Running after perfection is a myth that can only lead to fear of failure and ultimately hold you back.
Why would anyone strive for perfection, you may ask?
Well.
Have you ever had a coach who only highlighted your flaws in a detailed fashion, making you question yourself, your capabilities, and your skills?
When striving for perfection, you only focus on your wrongdoings, ultimately impacting your self-esteem and self-confidence.
It fuels a negative mindset.
Having a negative mindset is bad for athletes.
It's important to understand how criticism affects you and deal with it in a positive way.
And everything comes down to nuances in the language.
Have you ever heard your Coach ask, "What did you do wrong?" If so, remember that you can use every setback as an opportunity for growth.
Start by thinking through what went well during your practice or game. You'll be surprised at the amount of progress you have achieved recently!
Then, take the time to reflect on the ways that you can further improve and challenge yourself in the future.
Regularly evaluating one's performance in this manner can inspire individuals to work harder and develop meaningful connections with their sport.
This, in turn, cultivates a lasting enthusiasm driven by all the right motives.
Your Takeaways
While toxicity in sports is a sad reality, it's important to remember that good coaches are still out there.
Keep searching for teams and coaches who appreciate your effort, give helpful advice, and boost your self-assurance.
More importantly, protect yourself from those who are quick to judge and criticize.
Tune out comments that only serve to discourage, such as those from a toxic coach.
Be conscious of how an individual's words affect your performance— both on and off the field.
Everyone makes mistakes, even the most brilliant and talented people. Nobody can succeed at everything they do, so remember that at the end of the day. Don't allow a bossy coach to hinder your effort. Focus on playing with passion, regardless of your team.
Be aware of how you react to negativity and choose to fight it by being optimistic. Fostering a positive self-image with routines is the key to helping you build confidence and ensure your success.
Remember: Being brave, strong, and determined when dealing with unfairness proves that focusing on yourself is the best response. Refuse negativity clouding your judgment and vision of what you can achieve!
With a committed attitude, there’s no doubt that you have what it takes for greatness in whatever field you choose.
So trust yourself and go for it.
Having a negative mindset doesn't do anyone any good, especially athletes. Learning to identify and handle criticism productively is important, and not to take it too harshly is important.
Reflect on successes, find ways to improve, and push yourself in practice or games. Doing this will help you develop a strong love for the sport. This love will keep you motivated and help you grow personally for a long time.
Even small setbacks provide learning experiences, which we then take forward as part of preparing for future success! Even in tough times, athletes should be proud of their performance, learn from mistakes, and focus on personal growth.
As always, if you need help, contact us for a complimentary discovery call or if you need more strategies on how to deal with a toxic coach.
