305 Emotional Control: When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Release Date: 02/13/2026
312 Dr John Perry: How Sport Coaches Influence Mental Toughness
Demystifying Mental Toughness
To end a recent series on the coach-athlete relationship, in this bonus episode of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, David Charlton is joined by Dr John Perry, Head of Department of PE and Sports Sciences at the University of Limerick, researcher, former coach and performance analyst, to explore how coaches can better support athletes through the lens of mental toughness. The conversation explores why coaches have such a powerful influence on athletes’ habits and environments, how agency and behavioural standards can strengthen control, and why confidence should come from within...
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311 Learning Orientation: When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In this episode David concludes the eight-part series exploring the coach–athlete relationship by focusing on a powerful concept within the Challenge pillar of the 4Cs model of Mental Toughness, learning orientation. Learning orientation reflects how willing athletes and coaches are to reflect on mistakes, setbacks and difficult experiences in order to improve. Without this mindset, progress in sport can stall and with it, challenges become powerful opportunities for development. David explores a common dynamic where a coach has a high learning orientation but the athlete struggles...
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310 Risk Orientation: When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Demystifying Mental Toughness
Description Today, David Charlton explores another dynamic within the coach–athlete relationship: differences in risk orientation (a sub-measure of Mental Toughness). He discusses a common scenario in sport, a coach who prefers structure, routine and predictability working alongside an athlete who thrives on experimentation, creativity and challenge. While structured environments can provide stability and clarity, athletes high in risk orientation often crave variety, stimulation and opportunities to explore different solutions. When these two approaches collide, tension...
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309 Interpersonal Confidence: When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In this episode of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, David Charlton explores an often overlooked aspect of confidence in sport, interpersonal confidence. He discussed a common dynamic seen in sporting environments: a coach with very high interpersonal confidence working alongside an athlete who struggles to speak up. Highly confident coaches often communicate clearly and persuasively. They lead conversations, provide direction and bring strong conviction to their coaching. Yet when this confidence dominates the interaction, quieter athletes can become increasingly passive,...
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308 Confidence In Ability: When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Demystifying Mental Toughness
Today, David Charlton explores a powerful but often misunderstood dynamic in sport: the highly confident coach working with an athlete who lacks confidence in their ability. At first glance, this combination might appear positive. A confident leader should inspire belief and clarity. However, when the balance isn't right, the relationship can unintentionally increase anxiety, self‑doubt and disengagement for the athlete. Drawing on Albert Bandura’s concept of self‑efficacy and Sophia Jowett’s 3+1 Cs coach–athlete relationship model (closeness, commitment, complementarity and...
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307 Achievement Orientation: When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In part 4 of this mini-series, David Charlton explores a challenging but common sport dynamic: the high achievement-oriented athlete working with a low achievement-oriented coach. The athlete is organised, early, diligent, and constantly looking for ways to improvetechnical work, gym work, extras, metrics, and a “leave no stone unturned” mindset. But the coach may appear distracted, rushed, inconsistent, late, or disorganised and may find structured goal-setting and CPD stressful. When those worlds don’t align, athletes can feel unsupported, unwanted, and even inadequate,...
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306 Goal Orientation: When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In this episode (part 3) of Demystifying Mental Toughness, David Charlton continues his solo series exploring the 4Cs of Mental Toughness through the coach–athlete relationship lens. The focus this week is Commitment, specifically Goal Orientation, and a common challenge in sport: the mismatch between a highly goal-oriented coach and an athlete who feels overwhelmed, anxious or uncomfortable when targets are discussed. While goal-driven coaches bring structure, clarity and high standards, some athletes experience goals as pressure rather than motivation. Fear of judgement, developing...
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305 Emotional Control: When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In this episode of Demystifying Mental Toughness, David Charlton continues in part two of his solo series exploring the 4Cs of Mental Toughness through the coach–athlete relationship lens. The focus this week is Emotional Control and a common but misunderstood dynamic in sport: the emotionally reactive coach and the calm, composed athlete. While passion and intensity are often seen as leadership qualities, strong emotional reactions, sarcasm or outcome-focused language can unintentionally create a fear-based environment. When athletes feel judged or humiliated, the brain’s threat...
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304 Life Control: When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In this episode of Demystifying Mental Toughness, David begins a new eight-part solo series exploring how mental toughness shapes the coach–athlete relationship in sport. Today’s focus is Life Control — a part of mental toughness that influences whether people feel able to shape what happens to them, or whether life simply “happens” to them. David explores one of the most common and frustrating mismatches in sport: the high life-control coach and the low life-control athlete. High-life control coaches are driven, organised and solution-focused. They believe effort changes...
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303 Why You Think the Way You Do Under Pressure
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In part 2, David Charlton is again joined by Doug Strycharczyk from AQR International to explore how mental toughness shapes the way we make decisions especially when information is incomplete and pressure is high. Doug explains that confidence is not just about believing in your skills, but also about having the interpersonal confidence to work with others, challenge ideas, and avoid the trap of groupthink. In teams and organisations, those with higher interpersonal confidence are more likely to think divergently, question assumptions, and protect ethical decision-making rather than simply...
info_outlineIn this episode of Demystifying Mental Toughness, David Charlton continues in part two of his solo series exploring the 4Cs of Mental Toughness through the coach–athlete relationship lens.
The focus this week is Emotional Control and a common but misunderstood dynamic in sport: the emotionally reactive coach and the calm, composed athlete.
While passion and intensity are often seen as leadership qualities, strong emotional reactions, sarcasm or outcome-focused language can unintentionally create a fear-based environment. When athletes feel judged or humiliated, the brain’s threat system activates, reducing attention, decision-making and learning.
At the same time, athletes who regulate their emotions well are often misunderstood. Calm behaviour can be interpreted as a lack of care or motivation, leading to unnecessary conflict.
Drawing on research around the coach–athlete relationship and youth brain development, this episode explains how emotional climate shapes confidence, creativity and long-term engagement in sport.
Listeners will also learn a simple framework for understanding emotional intensity and regulation, along with practical strategies for improving communication and psychological safety.
>> Key Takeaways
- Fear and public criticism trigger threat responses that reduce learning and decision-making
- Calm athletes often care deeply, emotional control is a coping style, not disengagement
- Performance improves when coaches combine passion with emotional regulation and relational awareness
If you enjoyed this episode, check out part one of my mini-series and our previous podcasts on all things mental toughness:
Ep304 – David Charlton - Life Control: When Coaches and Athletes Think Differently
Ep303: Doug Strycharczyk - Why You Think the Way You Do Under Pressure
Ep302: Doug Strycharczyk - Why You React the Way You Do Under Pressure
Ep293: Stuart Barnes - High Challenge, High Support: Mental Toughness in Cricket
Ep249: Edward Hall - Workplace Collaboration in Team Sports Coaching Environments
Connect with David Charlton
· Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub