What separates an expert coach from the rest? Is it experience? Tactical knowledge? The ability to motivate athletes? While these factors play a role, research suggests that coaching expertise is more complex than we often assume. It’s not just about having the right qualifications or years of experience—it’s about how coaches think, reflect, and interact with athletes to create meaningful development.
Beyond Experience: What Really Defines Coaching Expertise
It’s easy to assume that a seasoned coach is automatically an expert, but experience alone does not equal expertise. Nash et al. (2012) reviewed 50 studies on coaching expertise and found 27 different definitions, revealing a lack of consensus in the field. Instead of focusing solely on years in the profession, research suggests that expert coaching relies on three interconnected areas:
- Professional Knowledge – Sport-specific tactics, teaching methods, and performance strategies.
- Interpersonal Knowledge – The ability to communicate, build trust, and foster relationships with athletes.
- Intrapersonal Knowledge – Self-awareness, reflective practice, and the ability to adapt based on experience.
This aligns with Côté & Gilbert’s (2009) model, which argues that expert coaches consistently integrate all three areas to develop athletes’ competence, confidence, connection, and character. In essence, expertise isn’t just about knowing the sport—it’s about knowing yourself, your athletes, and how to bring the best out of them in specific coaching contexts.
Another key distinction: expertise is not just effectiveness. A coach might get results in the short term, but if their methods lack adaptability, self-awareness, or long-term athlete development, they may not be considered an expert in the fullest sense.
Why Some Coaches Fail: The Gaps in Development
Despite these insights, most coach education programs focus almost entirely on professional knowledge—tactics, training methodologies, and sport science. However, interpersonal and intrapersonal knowledge are often overlooked, leaving coaches underprepared for the psychological and social complexities of their role.
Think about it: How often do coaches receive training on managing team dynamics, fostering psychological safety, or reflecting on their own biases and decision-making? Yet, research shows that these are the very skills that separate effective coaches from ineffective ones.
Abraham, Collins, and Martindale (2006) argue that until we have a clear definition of expert coaching, it will be difficult to develop better coaches. Without this clarity, coach education programs will continue to emphasize technical skills over the equally critical areas of athlete psychology, communication, and reflection.
The Social Network Effect: Coaching Beyond the Individual
Coaching isn’t just about what you know—it’s about the environment you create. A study by Scott, Haycraft, and Plateau (2020) examined the impact of social networks within teams on athletes’ eating and exercise behaviors. Their findings are eye-opening:
- Athletes’ eating and exercise behaviors converge or diverge based on the social connections within their team.
- Well-connected athletes (those with strong peer relationships) were less likely to engage in compulsive exercise behaviors.
- Cohesive teams had healthier attitudes toward training and body image, while socially isolated athletes were more vulnerable to disordered behaviors.
This reinforces what many great coaches already know: team culture matters. The way athletes interact with each other—not just with their coach—shapes their mindset, behaviors, and long-term development.
As a coach, you may spend hours planning training sessions, but how often do you think about how your athletes influence each other? Are you actively shaping a positive team culture, or are you letting it develop without guidance?
Developing Expert Coaches: Where Do We Go from Here?
If coaching expertise is about more than just tactics and experience, how can coaches intentionally develop their skills? Research suggests a few key steps:
- Deliberate Practice & Reflection – Nash et al. (2012) highlight that expert coaches engage in deliberate, structured reflection. This means analyzing their own decisions, recognizing patterns, and adapting based on experience. Journaling, peer feedback, and supervision can help refine this skill.
- Understanding Team Dynamics – Instead of just focusing on individuals, coaches should learn to map out team social networks to identify which athletes may be at risk and how group dynamics influence behavior.
- Prioritizing Psychological Safety – Scott et al. (2020) found that athletes who felt more connected within their team were less likely to develop disordered eating or compulsive exercise habits. A coach’s role isn’t just about demanding accountability—it’s about creating an environment where athletes feel safe to express concerns and make mistakes.
- Expanding Coach Education – Most coaching courses prioritize professional knowledge over interpersonal and intrapersonal skills. More programs should integrate leadership development, social influence, and self-reflection, not just technical knowledge.
In addition, mentorship plays a crucial role in coaching expertise. Studies show that mentored coaches develop more holistic skills, particularly in navigating interpersonal challenges and refining their coaching philosophy.
Final Thought
Expert coaching is about more than just what you know—it’s about how you apply that knowledge in a way that fosters growth, resilience, and well-being in athletes. If we want to develop better coaches, we need to expand the definition of expertise beyond experience and ensure we’re developing the right skills, not just the most obvious ones.
