The Psychological Competence and Leadership of a Sports Coach
Study Course Implementer
Riga, 5 J. Asara Street, vppk@rsu.lv, +37167061587
About Study Course
Objective
Develop the ability of students to analyse the psychological competences and leadership approaches of coaches, assess their impact on athlete development and team functioning, and apply communication, emotional intelligence and collaborative skills in professional activities in the sports environment.
Preliminary Knowledge
Not required
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.Able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of the personality traits of the coach, the importance of emotional intelligence, team dynamics, forms of communication, leadership styles and principles of interdisciplinary cooperation, integrating theoretical models and current research into the context of sports psychology and pedagogy.
Skills
1.Able to independently analyse and evaluate psychological, emotional and social factors affecting the work of a coach, apply methods of emotional intelligence and self-regulation, form effective communication and collaborate with other specialists to promote the development of athletes, as well as adapt leadership approaches to different levels of age, motivation and development of athletes.
Competences
1.Able to independently formulate, analyse and address complex problems related to the psychological competence of the coach and team management by adapting approaches to specific situations in the sports environment, demonstrating ethical responsibility, respect for professional boundaries and long-term thinking about the athlete’s wellbeing.
Assessment
Individual work
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Self-assessment tests and tasks on lecture topics |
20.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
2.
Lesson attendance, practice, and discussion of lesson topics |
20.00% from total grade
|
Test
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Examination
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Case analysis |
60.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
Study Course Theme Plan
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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Introductory lecture. Coach personality and coaching styles.
Description
The introductory lecture discusses the course course course, the format of lectures and classes, the course requirements and the final exam. Personality theories are mentioned and this, as the personality traits and pedagogical approach of a coach, can affect communication with athletes and parents of athletes. Values and beliefs related to an athlete’s performance - orientation to task or result, attitude to mistakes and feedback about performance - will be analyzed. The relative advantages of age, the concepts of Pigmalion effect, favouritism and behavioural modelling in the sporting environment are explained. |
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Lecture
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Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
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2
|
Topics
|
Introductory lecture. Coach personality and coaching styles.
Description
The introductory lecture discusses the course course course, the format of lectures and classes, the course requirements and the final exam. Personality theories are mentioned and this, as the personality traits and pedagogical approach of a coach, can affect communication with athletes and parents of athletes. Values and beliefs related to an athlete’s performance - orientation to task or result, attitude to mistakes and feedback about performance - will be analyzed. The relative advantages of age, the concepts of Pigmalion effect, favouritism and behavioural modelling in the sporting environment are explained. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
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2
|
Topics
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Emotions, emotional intelligence in coaching.
Description
The importance of emotion in the context of sport - how emotion affects motivation and learning and ways of controlling emotions in pressure situations - will be looked at. The concept of emotional intelligence in sport will be discussed. The relationship between emotional intelligence and behavioural modelling through the 3Cs/5C theory. The emotional intelligence, empathy and ability of a coach to understand the emotional signals in an athlete’s behavior. ACT approach. |
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Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Emotions, emotional intelligence in coaching.
Description
The importance of emotion in the context of sport - how emotion affects motivation and learning and ways of controlling emotions in pressure situations - will be looked at. The concept of emotional intelligence in sport will be discussed. The relationship between emotional intelligence and behavioural modelling through the 3Cs/5C theory. The emotional intelligence, empathy and ability of a coach to understand the emotional signals in an athlete’s behavior. ACT approach. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
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2
|
Topics
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The psychological health of coaches - burnout, self-regulation, self-reflection and building professional boundaries.
Description
Students will be presented with symptoms of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, etc.) and risk factors (high requirements, chronic stress, etc.) when working in a sports environment. Maslach model, burnout stages and their assessment using the Maslach burnout survey. Resource Preservation theory (Hobfoll `s Conservation of resources theory). Will learn and learn to apply self-regulation and self-reflection techniques during classes. Mindfulness-based stressv reduction (MBSR) kabat-Zinn approach. The role of professional boundaries in developing healthy relationships. Establishment of a support system and professional assistance. |
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Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
The psychological health of coaches - burnout, self-regulation, self-reflection and building professional boundaries.
Description
Students will be presented with symptoms of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, etc.) and risk factors (high requirements, chronic stress, etc.) when working in a sports environment. Maslach model, burnout stages and their assessment using the Maslach burnout survey. Resource Preservation theory (Hobfoll `s Conservation of resources theory). Will learn and learn to apply self-regulation and self-reflection techniques during classes. Mindfulness-based stressv reduction (MBSR) kabat-Zinn approach. The role of professional boundaries in developing healthy relationships. Establishment of a support system and professional assistance. |
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Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
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The dynamic of the team and the role of the coach.
Description
The team and its formative stages. Types of team cohesion (social or task) and its relation to team performance. Roles and their clarity in the team. Social facilitācija, Ringelman effect. Conflicts within the team and their leadership. The impact of a coach’s management style on team dynamics. Chelladurai multidimensional model. Students will analyse and debate examples of with distinction coaches. |
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Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
The dynamic of the team and the role of the coach.
Description
The team and its formative stages. Types of team cohesion (social or task) and its relation to team performance. Roles and their clarity in the team. Social facilitācija, Ringelman effect. Conflicts within the team and their leadership. The impact of a coach’s management style on team dynamics. Chelladurai multidimensional model. Students will analyse and debate examples of with distinction coaches. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Leadership styles and their impact on athlete performance.
Description
The concept of leadership in the context of sport will be addressed, different types of leadership styles (authoritarian, democratic, etc.) analysed and theoretical approaches explaining leadership approaches in the sporting environment will be analysed. (Transformational and transactional leadership theory (Bass), situational leadership theory, (Hersey & Blanchard) and social identity approach to leadership (Haslam, Reicher & Platow). Introduced to customize leadership styles based on an athlete’s age, experience, level of motivation, and situation. |
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Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Leadership styles and their impact on athlete performance.
Description
The concept of leadership in the context of sport will be addressed, different types of leadership styles (authoritarian, democratic, etc.) analysed and theoretical approaches explaining leadership approaches in the sporting environment will be analysed. (Transformational and transactional leadership theory (Bass), situational leadership theory, (Hersey & Blanchard) and social identity approach to leadership (Haslam, Reicher & Platow). Introduced to customize leadership styles based on an athlete’s age, experience, level of motivation, and situation. |
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Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
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2
|
Topics
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Forms of communication, conflict resolution in sports environments.
Description
Communication, its role in sport. Forms of communication in (verbal, non-verbal) sport. Basic principles for building successful communication in a sporting environment. Conflicts, strategies for resolving them. Various conflict resolution strategies have been practically tried. |
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Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Forms of communication, conflict resolution in sports environments.
Description
Communication, its role in sport. Forms of communication in (verbal, non-verbal) sport. Basic principles for building successful communication in a sporting environment. Conflicts, strategies for resolving them. Various conflict resolution strategies have been practically tried. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
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2
|
Topics
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Violence and aggression in sport.
Description
Students will be introduced to the concept and types of aggression (proactive, reactive, etc.) and forms of violence in the sports environment. In theory, factors that can contribute to aggression will be discussed. Students will be introduced to theories of aggression in sports psychology and possible defensive and preventive measures. |
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Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Violence and aggression in sport.
Description
Students will be introduced to the concept and types of aggression (proactive, reactive, etc.) and forms of violence in the sports environment. In theory, factors that can contribute to aggression will be discussed. Students will be introduced to theories of aggression in sports psychology and possible defensive and preventive measures. |
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Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
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Interdisciplinary (coach and psychologist collaboration).
Description
The topic of the need for cooperation in the sporting environment and a holistic approach to the development of an athlete’s personality and career will be discussed in relation to the biopsychosocial model in the context of sport. Principles of effective cooperation - clarity and respect for the role of the support team, clear communication. Possible forms and models of cooperation - individual work, team counselling, involvement of a psychologist in the training process, crisis situations. Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary approach concepts. Challenges and barriers in collaboration, resistance and its possible causes, stigma, overlap of roles. Long-term maintenance and monitoring of an athlete’s mental health. |
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Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Interdisciplinary (coach and psychologist collaboration).
Description
The topic of the need for cooperation in the sporting environment and a holistic approach to the development of an athlete’s personality and career will be discussed in relation to the biopsychosocial model in the context of sport. Principles of effective cooperation - clarity and respect for the role of the support team, clear communication. Possible forms and models of cooperation - individual work, team counselling, involvement of a psychologist in the training process, crisis situations. Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary approach concepts. Challenges and barriers in collaboration, resistance and its possible causes, stigma, overlap of roles. Long-term maintenance and monitoring of an athlete’s mental health. |
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Exam
|
-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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Exam
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Bibliography
Required Reading
Nicholls, A. R. (2021). Psychology in sports coaching: Theory and practice. Routledge.Suitable for English stream
Weinberg, R. S., & Gould, D. (2023). Foundations of sport and exercise psychology. Human kinetics.Suitable for English stream
Cular, D., Babic, M., Katovic, D., Beslija, T., & Kezic, A. (2024). How to Compare Relative Age Effect in Different Sports? A New Methodological Approach—Example of Youth Olympic Games. Sports, 12(8), 215.Suitable for English stream
Pan F and Sui W (2025). Research on coach-athlete relationship and team performance based on 3Cs theory: the chain mediating role of emotional intelligence and athletic engagement. Front. Psychol. 16:1587900.Suitable for English stream
Gellock, Jennifer L. and Dwyer, Brendan (2023). "Areas of Worklife and Job Burnout among Sport Industry Professionals: The Case of Athletic Academic Support Professionals," Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics: Vol. 16: Iss. 1, Article 6.Suitable for English stream
Additional Reading
Del Pino-Marchito, A., Galán-García, A., & Plaza-Mejía, M. d. l. Á. (2025). The Hersey and Blanchard’s Situational Leadership Model Revisited: Its Role in Sustainable Organizational Development. World, 6(2), 63.Suitable for English stream
Charlina, Charlina & Roziah, Roziah & Ismail, Syofianis & Piliang, Wilda & Siswanto, Siswanto & Setyawan, Hendra & Zulbahri, Zulbahri & Darmawan, Arief & Shidiq, Abdul & Eken, Özgür & Pavlović, Ratko & Latino, Francesca & Tafuri, Francesco. (2024). Effective Verbal Communication in Physical Education Learning and Sports Coaching to Improve Achievement and Health: A Systematic Review. Retos. 56. 1139-1147.Suitable for English stream
Gavala-González J, Martins B, Ponseti FJ and Garcia-Mas A. (2020). Studying Well and Performing Well: A Bayesian Analysis on Team and Individual Rowing Performance in Dual Career Athletes. Front. Psychol. 11:583409.Suitable for English stream
Henriksen, K., Hansen, J., & Larsen, C.H. (2020). Mindfulness and Acceptance in Sport: How to Help Athletes Perform and Thrive under Pressure (1st ed.). Routledge.Suitable for English stream