Sign up to my FREE motivational psychology newsletter:Subscribe | Labours of Sport Coaching - The Self-Determined CoachIn this episode I chat with Dadi Rafnsson about his latest research working with football clubs to establish a 5 Cs psychosocial language for football coaches and players to use to tangibly bring psychology alive, as a precursor to nurturing their psychosocial development in training and on matchdays. Coaches have a massive part to play in unlocking the developmental potential of psychology in young athletes, and this latest development is a key next steps to realising our potential. I'm currently supervising a PhD project wherein establishing a bespoke psychosocial profile for an academy forms the first part of this mission, taking massive inspiration from Dadi's work.

Paper discussed:

Rafnsson, D., Harwood, C., Steptoe, K., Matthíasdóttir, Á., Sveinbjörnsdóttir, B., & Kristjánsdóttir, H. (2025). Enhancing Role Clarity in Youth Football: Applying the 5Cs to Role Descriptions by Position. International Sport Coaching Journal, 1, 1-13.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Psychosocial Profiling in Football

01:25:31 The Role of Coaches in Psychological Development

01:28:29 Understanding the Five Cs Framework

01:31:20 Practical Applications of Psychosocial Skills

01:34:21 Developing a Common Language for Coaches and Players

01:37:15 Measuring Psychosocial Behaviors in Training

01:40:13 Integrating Psychology into Daily Training

01:43:05 The Importance of Context in Coaching

01:46:28 Commitment and Its Impact on Performance

01:49:08 Creating a Supportive Environment for Development

01:52:24 Accountability and Communication in Coaching

01:55:27 Future Directions in Psychosocial Training

02:05:12 Systematic vs. Organic Coaching Approaches

02:08:04 The Role of Emotional Control in Youth Development

02:10:45 Lessons from the Project

02:13:47 Engaging Parents in Youth Sports

02:16:55 Position-Specific vs. General Player Development

02:22:42 Cultural Influences on Coaching and Player Development

02:29:00 Balancing Performance and Psychosocial Development

02:40:43 Integrating Psychology into Coaching Practices

Learn more about your host and access my services:

https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

Connect with me on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjcarrollresearcher/

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Subscribe | Labours of Sport Coaching - The Self-Determined Coach

In this short episode I tackle the conundrum of advocating for athletes' autonomy within the coaching process, when the coaching process is orchestrated - and controlled - by the coach. Even when it feels like athlete choice, it’s ultimately about the coach’s agenda, right? Exploring this argument thought pokes fun at dogmatism in the context of athlete centred coaching, while simultaneously reminding autonomy supportive coaching cynics that coaches still have a duty to AIM for autonomy within their relationship with athletes. Regardless of the fragile validity of athlete autonomy in coaching.

Takeaways

• Autonomy support in coaching is complex and paradoxical.
• Control in coaching isn't inherently negative.
• True autonomy may not be fully achievable in coaching.
• Coaches always hold power and control over athletes.
• Autonomy support should be structured and guided, not absolute freedom.
• Influence is a natural part of the coaching relationship.
• Effective coaching involves nurturing athlete agency while taking control.
• Coaches should reflect on contradictions within their own philosophies.

If you enjoy this episode, I suggest you check out these other episodes too:

Reframing motivation with SDT

Autonomy supportive coaching 101

The hidden dimension of motivational coach behaviour

Learn more about your host and access my services:

https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

Support the show by becoming a patron:

https://labours-of-sport.captivate.fm/support

Connect with me on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjcarrollresearcher/

Sign up to my FREE motivational psychology newsletter:

Subscribe | Labours of Sport Coaching - The Self-Determined Coach

In this episode, I introduce relatedness support as the lowest hanging fruit* (with an asterisk to be explained) of the three basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Relatedness support is intrinsic (no pun intended) to all functional, effective coach-athlete relationships. Yet we are guilty of taking for granted its importance. Learn how relatedness enhances and unlocks feeling of competence and autonomy, and how we coaches can support or inhibit perceptions of relatedness through every day behaviours and actions, with lots of interpersonal strategies included.

Keywords

coaching, relatedness support, self-determination theory, athlete relationships, emotional care, team dynamics, communication, social connections, motivation, sports psychology

Takeaways

• Stable and active relatedness support is crucial for effective coaching.
• Social connections enhance athlete motivation.
• Coaches must prioritise emotional care and support in its man forms.
• Self-determination theory highlights the importance of relatedness.
• A warm and approachable demeanor fosters trust with athletes.
• Coaches should be aware of team dynamics and individuals' social needs.
• Caring for athletes goes beyond technical skills (but helping athletes get better is also a form of care).
• Building a sense of community enhances athlete engagement and prosocial behaviours
• Being a good person as a coach is the simplest yet most impactful coaching strategy.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Relatedness Support in Coaching

02:25 The Importance of Social Connections in Coaching

05:18 Understanding Self-Determination Theory

07:42 Building Trust and Belonging in Athletic Environments

10:11 Effective Communication Styles for Coaches

13:02 The Role of Unconditional Regard in Coaching

15:29 Creating an Inclusive Coaching Environment

17:52 Fostering Team Bonds and Community Care

20:34 Conclusion and Call to Action

If you enjoyed this episode, I recommend checking out these other episodes too:

Autonomy support 101

Competence support 101

Reframing motivation with SDT

The hidden dimension of motivational coach behaviour

Learn more about your host and access my services:

https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

Support the show by becoming a patron:

https://labours-of-sport.captivate.fm/support

Connect with me on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjcarrollresearcher/