Structural pillars of the process

Self-Awareness: Perceiving to correct

The first pillar upon which any successful sports coaching process is built is self-awareness.

This is not an abstract concept, but a technical skill that implies that the athlete is able to perceive with the highest precision what is happening in his internal and external reality.

It is a matter of developing an acute sensitivity to his own emotions, his physical movements, his muscular tension and, above all, his automatic thought patterns.

Without this clear perception, technical adjustment is impossible; an athlete cannot correct a mistake he does not feel or change an attitude he does not recognize.

The coach acts as a signal amplifier, helping the athlete to tune in to this subtle information.

For example, a tennis player may learn to notice that his or her breathing becomes thoracic and rapid just before a break point, allowing him or her to consciously intervene before nervousness hijacks his or her technique.

Responsibility: Owning the outcome

The second non-negotiable pillar is responsibility. The coaching model is based on the premise that the athlete is the sole and legitimate owner of his or her results and learning process.

This breaks with the paternalistic model where the coach takes the blame for the defeats or the credit for the victories.

In coaching, the coach systematically returns the responsibility to the athlete. It is not about blaming, but empowering.

When an athlete takes radical responsibility for his career, he stops looking for excuses in the referee, the weather or luck, and starts looking for solutions in his own behavior and preparation.

Responsibility is the key that transforms a passive subject into a protagonist actor of his sport destiny.

Intrinsic motivation and empowerment

The connection between these pillars generates the highest quality motivation: intrinsic motivation.

The coach does not impose tasks or force compliance through fear or authority.

Instead, he or she encourages the athlete to choose his or her own commitments based on self-awareness.

When a long-distance runner decides on his own to adjust his rest routine because he has become aware of his fatigue, the level of commitment to that action is infinitely higher than if he received an external order from the coach. This transfer of power is vital.

Coaching seeks to create autonomous athletes, capable of self-correcting and self-motivating in the heat of competition, when the coach cannot intervene.

This empowerment is what differentiates the champions who endure from the talents who are always dependent on external guidance.

Summary

Self-awareness is the first fundamental pillar for perceiving internal reality accurately. It allows the athlete to notice thought patterns and physical tensions before making any necessary technical adjustments.

Radical accountability requires the athlete to take ownership of his or her results and learning. It breaks with paternalistic models, transforming the athlete into a protagonist actor capable of constantly seeking his or her own solutions.

These pillars generate intrinsic motivation and a vital empowerment for high competition. The ultimate goal is to create autonomous athletes who are able to correct and motivate themselves even without external guidance.