Putting Coach Confirmation Research into Practice: How to Confirm Youth and High School Athletes and Coach More Effectively

Abstract

This article focuses on how coaches can utilize a prosocial coaching behavior referred to as confirmation to promote positive experiences and development for youth and high school athletes. Confirmation centers on making athletes feel recognized, valued, supported and connected to others — all of which are goals of modern prosocial coaching movements. In an effort to accomplish these goals, this article presents six specific strategies that coaches can enact to make their athletes feel confirmed.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gregory A. Cranmer

Gregory A. Cranmer ([email protected]) was an assistant professor in the Department of Communication at Columbus State University at the time of writing this article. He is now an assistant professor in the Department of Communication at Clemson University in Clemson, SC;

Maria Brann

Maria Brann is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, IN; and

Christine K. Anzur

Christine K. Anzur is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Communication Studies at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV.