Lessons in Psychological Safety in Sports

 

What?

As a former swimmer, I had two very different coaching experiences. One was with my former coach, who is now my boss. Under him, I experienced what I would now call a healthy, psychologically safe environment. He believed in me and supported me through the ups and downs of my career at Virginia Tech, but more importantly, he supported me through life. During my swim career at VT, I lost family members while living across the ocean. I was grieving while trying to train, compete, and study far away from home. He didn’t just see me as an athlete; he saw me as a person. He gave me space when I needed it, pushed me when I was ready, and never made me feel weak for struggling. On the other hand, I also experienced the opposite. Before coming to the U.S. on scholarship, I trained under a Hungarian coach who was verbally abusive. Nothing was ever good enough for him. I could win an event with a personal best, and he would still tell me I could have done better. There was no positive reinforcement and no supportive team environment. I was always anxious going to practice because I knew I would get yelled at for something. Eventually, I switched club teams because I knew that environment wasn’t sustainable. In class, we discussed psychological safety, defined in sport as an environment where athletes feel safe to speak up, make mistakes, and be themselves without fear of punishment or humiliation (Vella et al., 2024). Research shows that psychological safety is strongly connected to team functioning and well-being (Fransen et al., 2020) and plays a key role in the coach–athlete relationship and overall mental wellness (Muthuswamy & Chitramani, 2023). Now I’ve realized that my old club team didn’t provide psychological safety.

So What?

Under my supportive coach, I performed better because I was not afraid to underperform and I felt trusted. I could talk with my coach when I was struggling. I knew I could make mistakes without being punished. That freedom allowed me to grow as a person and as an athlete. The research I found supports this idea. When athletes feel psychologically safe, it improves team functioning and overall well-being (Fransen et al., 2020). It also strengthens the coach–athlete relationship, which directly impacts mental wellness and success (Muthuswamy & Chitramani, 2023). Under my abusive coach, the opposite happened. Even when I succeeded, I felt like I had failed. I swam to avoid being yelled at instead of swimming for the joy and love of the sport. After a while, it takes the joy and love out of it and you start to hate it. Vella et al. (2024) highlight that psychological safety is key for healthy sport environments. Without it, athletes may comply, but they don’t thrive. As student-athletes, we are already balancing so much: academics, pressure to perform, social life, homesickness, and more. Add living across the ocean from your family, learning a new language and adjusting to a new coaching environment and it becomes even more important. Fear can lead to short-term success, but safety is what leads to long-term success.

Now What?

Now, I’m on the other side. As the Director of Operations at Virginia Tech Swim and Dive, I’m no longer the athlete looking up at the coach. I’m part of the leadership structure that shapes the team environment. I carry both experiences with me. I know what it feels like to struggle at practice. I know what it feels like to question yourself and wonder if it’s worth it. I also know what it feels like to be believed in when you’re struggling. That’s what matters. Psychological safety isn’t just about coaches being “nice.” It’s about creating an environment for honest conversations and allowing athletes to struggle without shame. It’s about respecting and recognizing each individual’s achievements, in and out of the pool. It’s about leading with accountability and humanity. Research shows that leadership behaviors that foster identity and connection within teams help build psychological safety (Fransen et al., 2020). That’s something we, as coaching and support staff, can actively contribute to the team. For me, “now what” means being intentional. It means checking in on the athletes and helping them however I can. It means creating a safe and positive environment for our team. I’m grateful I’ve experienced both sides because it helps me be better at my job. The unhealthy environment showed me what I never want for our athletes and the healthy one showed me what truly helps them thrive. Psychological safety is a must in sports. It helps athletes grow as people and as athletes at the same time.

References

Muthuswamy, V. V., & Chitramani, P. (2023). Fostering mental wellness and team success: The impact of coach-athlete relationship and sports psychological safety. Archives of Clinical Psychiatry, 50(5), 335–345. https://doi.org/10.15761/0101-60830000000844

Vella, S. A., Mayland, E., Schweickle, M. J., Sutcliffe, J. T., McEwan, D., & Swann, C. (2024). Psychological safety in sport: A systematic review and concept analysis. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 17(1), 516–539. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2022.2028306

Fransen, K., McEwan, D., & Sarkar, M. (2020). The impact of identity leadership on team functioning and well-being in team sport: Is psychological safety the missing link? Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 51, 101763. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101763