The Power of Competence in Coaching

Inspired by our book Coaching Better Athletes

I want to start this post with a deep thought:

"Our feeling of competence can be diminished when challenges are too difficult, negativity permeates our experience(s), or our ability to feel effective at a task is sabotaged by internal or external factors that attack us personally or through social comparisons."

The above statement applies to every human being on the planet, but since we are focused mostly on athletics in our book, I'd like to focus on coaches. We all have the innate desire to feel competent, and if our standards for competence are not calibrated appropriately, we will always fall short. The above deep thought serves as a very important warning to us all. We need to set challenging but attainable goals, create a plan, and stick to it.

Great coaching goes beyond the scoreboard. It’s about fostering an environment where athletes feel capable, In this post, we’ll dive into competence—the need to feel effective—and explore how it shapes coaching styles and how coaches can maximize it to unlock their athletes’ potential.

Why Competence Matters

Competence fuels engagement through achievable success. When athletes feel they can succeed, they’re more likely to dive into practice, take risks, and persevere. However, competence can erode when challenges feel insurmountable, negativity creeps in, or external pressures—like social comparisons or an overemphasis on winning—undermine confidence.

Many coaches are inspired by legends like John Wooden (UCLA Basketball) or Andy Reid (NFL), whose remarkable win records often define their legacy. But what made these coaches truly exceptional wasn’t just their victories—it was their commitment to developing athletes holistically. Wooden’s Pyramid of Success emphasized effort and character, while Reid’s focus on team culture nurtures player growth. Unfortunately, some coaches, fixated on emulating their win totals, prioritize short-term results over long-term development, missing the deeper lessons of sports.

This win-at-all-costs mindset can overshadow the broader benefits of athletics, like skill mastery, resilience, and teamwork. While tracking wins and losses is part of competition, true coaching success lies in teaching athletes to compete—to strive, learn, and grow, regardless of the outcome.

How Competence Shapes Coaching

A coach’s approach to competence can make or break athlete motivation. Here’s how it commonly plays out:

• Win-Focused Coaching: Overemphasizing victories can sideline less-skilled players or create pressure that erodes confidence, making athletes feel incompetent.

• Development-Focused Coaching: Prioritizing effort, skill-building, and progress fosters competence across the team, as athletes see tangible improvement.

• Negativity or Unrealistic Goals: Harsh criticism or unattainable expectations (e.g., demanding a novice team win a championship) can sabotage competence, leading to disengagement.

• Tailored Teaching: Addressing individual and team needs, like breaking down complex skills, builds confidence and capability.

Consider my experience coaching a freshman boys’ basketball team. These athletes were energetic and athletic but lacked basic knowledge of court structure—terms like “baseline,” “elbow,” or “top of the key” were foreign to them. Initially, their high self-perception didn’t match their basketball IQ. Rather than pushing for wins, we focused on fundamentals, using a court diagram to teach layout and plays. This small step made practices productive and the season successful, proving that competence grows when coaches meet athletes where they are.

Strategies to Boost Competence

To maximize competence, coaches can adopt these SDT-inspired strategies:

1. Set Process-Oriented Goals: Focus on effort and growth, like improving teamwork or mastering a skill. For my freshman team, learning court terminology was a clear, achievable goal that boosted confidence.

2. Break Down Challenges: Simplify tasks to make success attainable. Our court diagram turned complex plays into manageable steps.

3. Offer Constructive Feedback: Highlight progress (e.g., “Your positioning is sharper”) while guiding improvement, balancing encouragement with direction.

4. Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge milestones, like executing a new play, to reinforce capability and motivate effort.

5. Know Your Team: Regularly assess what athletes value—fundamentals, leadership, or culture—and tailor goals accordingly. Surveys or check-ins can reveal these priorities.

6. Embrace Mistakes as Growth: Create a culture where errors are learning opportunities, encouraging athletes to take risks without fear of failure.

7. Work Within Constraints: Whether limited by geography, skill levels, or resources, build competence by developing the athletes you have, as all great coaches do masterfully.

The Bigger Picture

Competence isn’t about racking up trophies—it’s about empowering athletes to feel capable and confident. By focusing on growth over wins, coaches can unlock potential, foster resilience, and instill a lifelong love for sports. Legendary coaches don't just win; they build athletes who thrive on and off the field. Follow their lead: prioritize competence, and the wins will follow naturally.

In my next couple of posts, we will be diving deeper into autonomy and relationships as they fit into the coaching profession. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or want to know more about anything coaching related!