312 Dr John Perry: How Sport Coaches Influence Mental Toughness

About this episode

David Charlton and Dr John Perry discuss the influence of coaches on athletes' mental toughness and development.

To end a recent series on the coach-athlete relationship, in this bonus episode of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, David Charlton is joined by Dr John Perry, Head of Department of PE and Sports Sciences at the University of Limerick, researcher, former coach and performance analyst, to explore how coaches can better support athletes through the lens of mental toughness. The conversation explores why coaches have such a powerful influence on athletes' habits and environments, how agency and behavioural standards can strengthen control, and why confidence should come from within rather than being outsourced to results, selection or feedback. They also discuss how coaches can create challenging environments that encourage growth without fear, why mistakes should be accepted as part of development, and why commitment is often misunderstood as a character issue rather than a cognitive skill linked to attention and focus. This is a rich, thought-provoking episode for coaches, parents and athletes who want to understand how to create environments that develop stronger, more self-aware and resilient performers. >> Key Takeaways · Great coaching helps athletes develop agency by…

People in this episode

Host: David Charlton

Guest: Dr John Perry

Topics covered

• coach-athlete relationship
• mental toughness
• athlete development
• coaching influence
• confidence
• commitment

Keywords

• mental toughness
• coaching
• athlete support
• confidence
• commitment
• performance analysis
• growth mindset

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Limerick