The Coach as Architect and Performer: 12 Behaviours for Success Under Pressure

What separates good coaches from great ones, especially when the pressure is on? A recent presentation, based on a four-year project with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), delved into this very question. The project interviewed 12 highly successful Australian coaches and eight of their athletes to uncover the key behaviours that help athletes perform to their potential in high-stakes international competitions.

The findings were organised into two powerful themes: the coach as an ‘Architect and Sculptor’ of the performance environment, and the coach as a ‘Performer’ in their own right. Here’s a breakdown of the 12 key behaviours identified and how you can apply them to your own coaching practice.