EXPLORING THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ROLE OF SPORTS COACHES: TRENDS AND GAPS IN THE LITERATURE

Abstract

Sport Psychology applied to coaches remains an underexplored area in scientific literature. However, these professionals play a crucial role as catalysts for team performance. Adopting the interaction between Bioecological Theory and the Coach Model, this study positions the coach at the center of Sport Psychology analysis. The search strategy used a combination of the following descriptors: Sport Psychology, sports psychology, sports coaches, and treinadores esportivos. A total of 43 articles were identified, of which 4 focus on management and decision-making (decision-making and organizational competence), 9 address interpersonal relationships (communication, leadership, and coach-athlete relationship), and 30 are related to psychological skills and well-being (self-confidence, self-efficacy, stress management, resilience, and positive mental health). The findings point toward a growing trend in studies interconnecting fundamental skills, with well-being emerging as the primary finding in the literature. The identification of gaps and the need for further studies on the subject emerge as significant limitations in the field.