Abstract
The coach-athlete relationship outlines the interactions between an athlete and their coach including communication, teaching methods, training principles, and assessment procedures. It is a unique dyad that can influence an athlete’s motivation, well-being, and the physical and the psychosocial development of a youth. When the coach-athlete relationship is readily inclusive and mutually empowering, it leads to an environment that motivates, satisfies, and supports both coach and athlete, enhancing their sport experience, performance, and well-being. Although researchers have called for more critical race discourse in sport, there is little such research on the coach-athlete relationship. This study applies Critical Race Theory (CRT) to explore the impact of race on the coach-athlete relationship in youth using the 3+1C Coach-Athlete Relationship Model. Ten athletes aged 18 to 21 who identified as Black and had experience being coached by Black and White coaches participated in online semi-structured interviews (M= 49 minutes). Through narrative analysis of the transcripts and interview notes, four themes are presented as narratives outlining what Black athletes value from their coaches: the Connection Seeker values a coach they can relate to; the Understanding Striver values a coach who understands the challenges of being a Black athlete; the Family Valuer values their family's relationship with their coach; and, the Opportunity Aspirant values a coach that can lead them to the next level in sport. These narratives inform coaches on how they can make the coach-athlete relationship readily inclusive and mutually empowering.
