Coach’s role in building athletes’ psychological resilience. Theoretical foundations and applied methods

© Aleksandra Ezhova, 2025

ISBN 978-5-0067-0327-8

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

Introduction

Sport is a multicomponent, complex system in which an athlete’s physical, technical, tactical, and psychophysiological readiness constitute an integral structure ensuring success in competitive activity. In the last decades, significant progress has been achieved in the knowledge of factors of sporting achievements. While earlier approaches were primarily concerned with the role of physical parameters and motor skills, recent studies have established that psychophysiological readiness – encompassing stress tolerance, self-regulation, and cognitive management – is equally significant for high-level performance.

A meta-analysis conducted by Kalén A. [1] investigates the role of cognitive functions in sports performance. The study examines domain-general and domain-specific cognitive skills, including working memory, attentional focus, and cognitive control. The authors conclude that an athlete’s achievement is not merely dependent on physical training and motor skills but also on cognitive features such as rapid decision-making, strategic thinking, and emotional state regulation. Significantly, athletes with highly advanced cognitive functions show greater performance on complex tactical tasks and under high psychophysiological stress.

The study by Merlin [2] explores the effects of controlled breathing techniques on the psychophysiological state of young swimmers. The experiment proved that slow, controlled breathing not only enhances subjective perceptions of sporting performance but also accelerates recovery processes, reduces anxiety levels, and increases feelings of control over the situation. The authors note that the systematic integration of breathing techniques into training guarantees stress resilience, improved self-regulation, and greater cognitive control efficiency, which ultimately leads to enhanced competitive performance.

The study by Murdoch [3] examines athletes’ reflection strategies on stressful situations and their impact on psychological resilience. The research compares two approaches: self-distanced reflection, where the athlete reflects on the situation as a third party, and self-immersed reflection, where there is strong emotional engagement with the experience. The findings indicate that self-distanced reflection is more effective in grasping the source of stress and reducing its impact on subsequent performances, whereas self-immersed reflection can heighten anxiety and lead to loss of self-confidence.

These findings stress that psychological toughness in sports people – for instance, self-control, coping with stress, and control of thinking – is equal in value to physical fitness. These qualities enable swimmers to manage competitive stress, remain focused, and fulfill their potential in the hostile climates of sport.

Generally, the psychological resilience of an athlete can be defined as a set of personal and cognitive characteristics that allow them to adapt to stressful situations, perform under extreme pressure, regulate their emotional states, and successfully cope with anxiety during competitions. This is most apparent in sports like swimming, where the level of mental toughness a competitor possesses will determine how effectively he or she will be able to manage high levels of physical exertion, exacting time limits, and emotional stress involved in competitive performance. Compared to team sports, where the task is capable of rearrangement and distribution of workload between members of the team, swimming is a sport where one swimmer has to take responsibility for the result of his or her performance. Absence of teammates, inability to set strategy while in competition, and limitation of external cues (sensory deprivation) make certain conditions for the swimmer in which there are high demands of self-control and emotional regulation.

Here, the role of the coach is significant, exercising a huge influence on shaping the psychological hardiness of a swimmer. His work involves not only training process organization, but also challenging pedagogical and psychological missions to shape the ideal psycho-emotional climate, firm motivation of the athlete, and the mechanism of self-regulation. Through a pedagogical process of targeted interventions, the coach fosters the swimmer’s adaptation to competitive stress, their volitional qualities, and their capacity to successfully control emotional states while performing under high psychophysiological loads.

The emotional engagement of the coach, communication, and support level during training and competition have a significant impact on the swimmer’s anxiety, self-confidence, and mobilization ability in critical situations.

However, in practice, the psychological elements of swimming training tend to be overlooked. Despite the popularity of sports psychology, the majority of coaches remain interested primarily in traditional means of physical and technical training, not complementing them with modern stress management and emotional control techniques. The absence can result in negative consequences such as pre-race tension, distraction during the critical moments, lack of motivation, and, ultimately, loss of sporting performance.

Thus, there is a necessity for the development of methodological guidelines that enable coaches to integrate psychological preparation into the training process, adapting existing scientific methods to certain competitive swimming requirements.

The relevance of this methodological guide is determined by the need for a systematic analysis of the coach’s role in shaping swimmers’ psychological resilience, as well as the development of effective methodological tools that enhance athletes’ stress resistance. In spite of the increasing volume of work on the cognitive, emotional, and social factors of sports performance, this factor is not yet fully explored in the sport of swimming, requiring additional theoretical consideration and experimental validation of psychological training processes for the development of stress resistance, self-regulation, and stress adaptation for competition. Not only must the main determinants of swimmers’ psychological preparedness be identified but also the most effective pedagogical conditions for fostering resistance to stress, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion.

The novelty of this methodological guide lies in its targeted focus on a comprehensive examination of the coach’s role in shaping swimmers’ psychological resilience, a topic that has previously been studied mainly within the framework of general sports psychology, without considering the specific nature of swimming. Unlike classic research, which highlights the technical and physiological bases of swim training, this book is dedicated to the pedagogical and psychological processes that underlie an athlete’s adaptation to stressful conditions, acquisition of skills for emotional regulation, and adequate performance under conditions of competitive pressure. The given methodological advice is meant to be applied practically in the course of training and to introduce psycho-pedagogical technologies into the system of swim training.

The goal of this methodological guide is to develop and justify effective approaches to building psychological resilience in swimmers through coaching activities, as well as to implement modern pedagogical and psychological technologies into the sports training process. It is necessary to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the coach’s role in developing stress resistance in swimmers, determine optimal coaching methods, and propose practical recommendations for their implementation in the training process.

To achieve this goal, the following objectives were formulated:

• conduct an analysis of theoretical approaches to the study of psychological resilience in sports and identify its specific characteristics in swimming;

• identify the key psychological factors affecting swimmers’ stress resistance levels;

• examine the impact of coaching style and interaction models on the formation of athletes’ psychological resilience;

• develop recommendations for the integration of psychological training methods into the training process;

• evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed methods and determine their applicability across various age and qualification groups of athletes;

• develop a practical coaching model that includes a system of exercises, diagnostic methods, and psychological training strategies, enabling the targeted development of swimmers’ stress resilience in both training and competitive settings.

This methodological guide has been developed based on a comprehensive approach, incorporating theoretical analysis, pedagogical design, empirical research, and practical testing of the proposed methods. The applied research made it possible to determine effective means of coaching that can contribute to the development of psychological resilience among swimmers and adapt them to different age and qualification groups of sportsmen.

Theoretical analysis and synthesis techniques were used to systematize scientific knowledge in sports psychology, pedagogy, and swimming physiology. This made it possible to identify prevailing means of forming resistance to stress, their practical significance, and their transformation based on the swimming training process needs. The comparative analysis method was applied to study various coaching models and assess their effectiveness in psychological training. Traditional and modern stress resilience development methods were analyzed, and their features were examined in the context of both individual and team sports.

The pedagogical design method allowed for the development of a system of methodological recommendations, including training exercises, coach-athlete interaction strategies, and psychological training integration algorithms in the training process. This approach ensured the practical applicability of the guide in various training conditions.

Observation method was used to explore emotional state and behavior of swimmers in stressful situations during training and competitions. Emphasis was placed on assessing pre-competition anxiety, responses to failure among athletes, and self-regulation strategies employed by swimmers under increased psychological pressure.

The modeling method was applied to develop practical exercises aimed at forming self-regulation skills, anxiety management, and concentration improvement. The developed models include simulation training, psychological testing, and cognitive strategy integration methods into the athlete preparation process.

The outcomes obtained have practical significance, as they can be used by coaches, sports psychologists, and sports preparation specialists to maximize training programs and implement psychological techniques that promote the development of swimmers’ stress resilience. The recommended methodological recommendations will enable coaches to introduce psychological training systematically into the process of training, develop communication with athletes, and create conditions for developing their emotional stability, self-confidence, and self-regulation abilities in the conditions of high competitive tension.

This study consists of three chapters, each of which is dedicated to a specific aspect of psychological resilience development in swimmers and the role of the coach in developing it.

The first chapter examines the theoretical foundations of psychological resilience in sports. It analyzes key concepts of stress resistance, cognitive-behavioral approaches to stress management, and self-regulation models under high competitive pressure. Special focus is directed at the specificity of swimming as a sport, which requires special demands upon the emotional well-being of the sportsmen. The chapter delineates important psychological determinants impacting the resistance of swimmers to stress like personality, experience in competitions, parameters of the process of training, and environmental parameters.

The second chapter explores modern coaching methods aimed at developing psychological resilience in swimmers. Various stress management methods are explored, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, visualization, mindfulness, breathing, and meditative methods. The emotional intelligence of the coach and how it influences the emotional states of athletes is also examined. Particular emphasis is placed on methods for developing self-confidence, enhancing resistance to stress during hard training, and resisting competitive pressure.

The third chapter presents applied methods and practical tools for fostering psychological resilience in swimmers. It addresses diagnostic methods for assessing the emotional state of athletes, methods for measuring anxiety and stress coping capacity, and individualized psychological conditioning programs. Methods of enhancing athletes’ motivation are described, along with training exercises and suggestions for applying them in practice.

Thus, this study presents a systematic coaching model aimed at developing swimmers’ stress resilience. The proposed methods can be adapted to different levels of athlete preparation and applied within both individual and team-based training approaches.

Chapter 1. Theoretical foundations of developing psychological resilience in athletes

1.1. Psychological resilience as a complex phenomenon: key models and approaches

In relation to the high demands of modern sports, psychological resilience is a crucial factor that ensures the capacity of an athlete to perform under pressure and in competitive situations. Recent developments in sports pedagogy and sports psychology confirm that achievement in a sportsperson is not solely dependent on physical fitness and skill but also on the ability to control concentration, emotional states, and motivation levels even in contexts of high uncertainty and competition pressure [4, 5].In sports such as swimming, mental toughness assumes even greater significance since the sportsperson is competing alone, in a closely controlled competitive environment, and needs to be at the highest level of concentration for a prolonged length of time.

Psychological resilience is a multifaceted integrative personality trait with cognitive, emotional, and behavioral facets that allows a person to maintain performance, emotional stability, and control of the situation in the face of stress. The phenomenon is generally examined within the scientific literature within the framework of various theoretical perspectives, including psychological adaptation theory, cognitive-behavioral theory, and stress regulation theories. These theories examine the stress resistance processes, including coping, cognitive restructuring, and emotional regulation.

The theory of psychological adaptation (Selye) defines stress as a nonspecific response of the body to external or internal demands, identifying three key stages of adaptation: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion (fig. 1).

Figure 1. Stages of stress adaptation according to H. Selye

On this basis, the body first employs its resources to combat the stressor (alarm stage), subsequently attempts to equalize physiological and psychological levels to maintain effective functioning (stage of resistance). However, with prolonged or excess exposure to the stress factor, it may go into a state of exhaustion with reduced adaptive capacity, physical and emotional burnout [6]. Psychologically, stress adaptation is a matter of learning tolerance of uncertainty, self-regulatory capacities, and coping abilities that allow people to remain productive even in the face of psycho-emotional stress.

This theory heavily emphasizes a model of adaptation with resources where physical, cognitive, and emotional reserve sufficiency provides the foundation of resilience. Practically, this means that one must balance the stress loads, accomplish recovery, and develop adaptive mechanisms to enhance resistance to chronic stress. The application of the theory of psychological adaptation in education and professional activities allows for the development of burnout prevention strategies, the programming of workload cycles, and the formation of individual stress management mechanisms that contribute to increased efficiency and long-term maintenance of performance.

The cognitive-behavioral theory (Lazarus & Folkman) examines psychological resilience through the interaction of cognitive processes and behavioral responses in stressful conditions [7]. The percepti¸on of a stressful situation is determined by a system of automatic thoughts that arise under the influence of previously formed beliefs. These thoughts can be either adaptive or destructive, shaping the individual’s subsequent response to a stressful stimulus (fig. 2).

Figure 2. The influence of automatic thoughts and beliefs on a person’s emotional, physiological, and behavioral reaction

When irrational beliefs are present (e.g., catastrophizing the incident, low self-esteem), automatic thoughts will yield a stress-inducing response, fostering greater anxiety and lower adaptability. In contrast, rational beliefs and positive cognitive style ensure an adaptive redefinition of the incident, control over emotional state, and reduced negative impact of stress. Therefore, cognitive-behavioral theory considers identification and restructuring automatic thoughts crucial in stress resilience development.

The stress regulation concept (J. Gross) examines the management of stress responses through the mechanism of emotional regulation, which involves consciously influencing cognitive, physiological, and behavioral reactions in response to a stressful situation (fig. 3).

Figure 3. Types of emotional stress regulation according to J. Gross

According to this concept, an individual can regulate their state by altering the perception of a stressor, their reaction to it, and selecting adaptive coping mechanisms [8]. Gross identifies two general categories of emotion regulation: antecedent-focused stress regulation (regulation of the emotional response before the stress has begun, e.g., cognitive reappraisal of the situation) and response-focused stress regulation (reduction of the strength of an already formed emotional response, e.g., relaxation or breathing exercises).

The most significant part of this concept is cognitive reappraisal, by which an individual views a stressor not as threatening but rather as a motivational stimulus or a challenge. By doing so, it minimizes the negative impact of anxiety and fear.

The theories researched – cognitive-behavioral theory, theory of psychological adaptation, and model of regulation of emotional stress – point to the importance of stress state regulation in sports. They demonstrate that successful adaptation to competition pressure relies not only on physiological factors but also on the extent to which a sportsman can consciously manage his/her response, modify the perception of stressful experience, and use effective coping strategies.

The other essential psychological resilience characteristic of the athlete includes his ability to self-regulate, including states of emotions management, anxiety and stress management reactions, and adapting to different competitive situations. Self-regulation is particularly important in swimming since swimmers must maintain high levels of concentration and psychophysiological readiness under rigorous competitive pressure [9]. Competitors who have good self-regulation are found to have more stable performance, are less susceptible to pre-competition anxiety, and recover more quickly after poor performances.

Together with self-regulation, an important component of psychological resilience is resistance to stress – the ability of an athlete to function under heavy psycho-emotional load. It is characterized by the correspondence between subjective demands of the situation and the resources the individual possesses. In sports, particularly in swimming, this correspondence is highly significant since the players are not only required to endure physical stress but also be prepared mentally to face adversity.

But still another crucial component of psychological resilience is the degree of cognitive control – the ability of an athlete to manage his thoughts, focus on the most crucial performance characteristics, and remain out of the damage inflicted by self-destructive thinking. In swimming, where competition occurs without haptic and vocal feedback, cognitive control is responsible for sustaining the best possible activity level, timely decision-making, and efficient energy resource allocation. People with a high level of cognitive control are less susceptible to a “slowing effect” in response to stress stimuli and are more effective when performing complex activities.

Psychological resilience in sports, thus, is a multi-level and intricate construct embracing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes that enable the sportspersons to adapt to stressors. In swimming, this question is particularly topical, for the sport is characterized by high self-regulation, stress tolerance, and cognitive control.

There are numerous conceptual approaches to psychological research on the phenomenon of psychological resilience in the scientific literature, each of which interprets this process within the system of different theoretical and methodological paradigms. Psychological resilience is considered by scientific schools to be a complex construct that includes cognitive, emotional, and behavioral mechanisms of adaptation to stressors.

The most structured concepts include the cognitive-behavioral model of stress resilience, the biopsychosocial model, and the psychoregulation model, each of which explains the personality adaptation mechanisms to stress from different theoretical and methodological standpoints.

As previously mentioned, the cognitive-behavioral model of stress resilience, proposed by R. Lazarus and S. Folkman, emphasizes the role of cognitive appraisal and the use of adaptive strategies in forming an effective response to stressful situations. Moving toward more comprehensive approaches, it is worth noting that the biopsychosocial model (Engel) views psychological resilience as a result of the interaction between biological, psychological, and social factors (fig. 4) [10].

Figure 4. Factors of psychological resilience

Biological factors are associated with genetic predisposition to stress resistance, individual characteristics of the nervous system, and the level of physical fitness. They determine the body’s fundamental ability to mobilize under stress, the recovery rate after exertion, and the physiological mechanisms of self-regulation. Psychological resilience formation relies mostly on innate characteristics of the nervous system, such as excitability level, lability, and information processing speed.

Psychological factors entail individual self-regulation competencies, motivation levels, personality, and cognitive styles. They establish the emotional regulation, stress tolerance, and adjustment to uncertainty of a sports person. Players with greater intrinsic motivation and greater ability for cognitive restructuring and reflection show more stable performance under pressure in competition. Psychological training is geared towards developing conscious coping abilities, pre-competition nervousness management, and maintaining self-confidence.