AIS research reveals why coach wellbeing is a high performance advantage

Coach wellbeing is emerging as a key factor in achieving high performance (HP) success, with new Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) research revealing its impact on performance, culture and the ability to attract and retain diverse coaching talent.

The AIS has developed a new Certificate IV in Wellbeing Science tailored specifically for HP coaches in response to the research findings.  

To better understand the pressures facing HP coaches and the support they need to perform at their best, the AIS researched coach wellbeing from both coach and organisational perspectives.

The findings highlighted coach wellbeing as a critical enabler of performance, recognising HP coaches as key enablers of athlete and team success whose wellbeing is shaped not only by the individual, but by the systems and support around them. 

The research also identified a clear need for more practical, embedded support, including stronger organisational backing and tools coaches can apply in the realities of HP sport. 

Delivered in partnership with specialised training organisation re:cognition, opens in a new tab, the Wellbeing Science course gives coaches practical wellbeing tools and science-backed principles to better understand their own wellbeing and navigate the pressures of the role. 

“If I had this information, I would have been a much better coach,” said Neil Craig, HP Coach Development Expert.  

“It’s a competitive advantage to have a system that enables you to coach at the highest level under the stress of the job.”  

Alongside the course, the research reinforces the value of a system approach to coach wellbeing, with organisations encouraged to embed wellbeing into leadership practice, performance planning and the day-to-day environments in which coaches operate. 

Registrations for the Certificate IV in Wellbeing Science open on 1 July, with HP coaches of all experience levels encouraged to register. 

For more information on the recommendations for organisations and coaches, visit the AIS Coach Performance Wellbeing Hub.