Dear Coach

Through the lens of athletes’ experiences and established research, Dear Coach shows coaches how to create higher-quality coach-athlete relationships that not only achieve better performance outcomes, but optimal well-being for all parties in and outside of sport. Sara Erdner, PhD, CMPC asked athletes one question: What do you wish you could have told your coach but, for whatever reason, never did? Athletes responded to this question via confidential letters, providing a wealth of knowledge for coaches, sport administrators, and all who care for athletes. From heartfelt thank-you letters to painful accusations and everything in between, Dear Coach gives athletes a rare platform in the sports reform debate, beginning a much-needed conversation between athletes and coaches directly. Yet, the communication problems in sport are not just personal but systemic. Dear Coach, also gives coaches and administrators the opportunity to write their own Dear Coach letter and explore how their own coaches may have influenced their current practice. Grounded in research and compassion for athletes and coaches alike, Dear Coach gives coaches practical tools to create higher-quality coach-athlete relationships that will not only achieve better performance outcomes, but optimal well-being for all parties inside and outside sport.