Why Person-Centred Therapy in Football Actually Works: A Coach's Guide
- Dr Paul McCarthy
- 1 day ago
- 10 min read
Person-centered therapy in football has gained importance in the last two decades. Many coaches still don't deal very well with its proper implementation. Research spanning nine months with 44 young football athletes showed major reductions in somatic anxiety. Players received weekly person-centered therapy sessions during this period.
The concept of therapy football creates confusion despite its rising popularity. Physical therapy in football focuses on injury management. Person-centered therapy is different—it targets the mental and emotional sides of player development. My coaching experience shows that colleagues often misunderstand these principles. They know the importance but apply them inconsistently. The gap between theory and practice becomes clear especially when you have coaches trying to balance player freedom with needed structure.
This piece explores the elements of authentic person-centered football coaching. You'll learn how it is different from traditional methods and practical ways to apply these techniques with your team. The psychological foundations of football therapy can reshape the scene of player performance and well-being. This applies whether you're starting out as a coach or looking to boost your current approach.
What Makes a Coaching Approach Person-Centered?
Carl Rogers' meta-theoretical viewpoint that people naturally grow, develop, and function optimally forms the basis of person-centered therapy in football. He called this the "actualising tendency" [1]. This approach developed as coaching philosophies moved away from traditional power dynamics to a more shared relationship with players.
Difference between athlete-centered and person-centered
These terms might seem similar, but they mean different things when it comes to player development. Athlete-centered coaching gives players the ability to develop their sporting skills. Person-centered coaching looks at the whole individual, not just their athletic performance [2].
The difference seems small but means a lot. Athlete-centered approaches put sports performance first, which focuses on technical skills and competitive results [2]. Person-centered coaching looks at players as complex individuals who have needs, values, and identities that go way beyond the pitch [2].
My coaching practice has shown that this change from athlete-centered to person-centered coaching isn't just about words—it completely changes our player interactions and the results we value.
Humanistic values in football coaching
Person-centered therapy in football builds on humanistic principles. These principles put player's independence, dignity, and worth at the heart of coaching relationships. You can see this approach through:
Emphasis on affect: We look at thinking and feeling rather than just skills training [3]
Self-concept development: Players develop positive self-image through meaningful interactions [3]
Authentic communication: Your words need to match your internal feelings [3]
Personal values: Players find their own values and take responsibility [3]
Rogers described this humanistic coaching style as a "growth-promoting climate." It needs authenticity, empathy, positive regard, and unconditional acceptance—keeping positive feelings without judgment [4].
Why person-centered therapy is more than just support
Person-centered therapy in football does much more than provide emotional support or boost confidence. It offers a detailed framework to understand human potential and create conditions for self-actualization [5].
Players know themselves best—that's the theory behind this approach [1]. Person-centered therapy respects players' independence and their ability to direct themselves, unlike football therapy where coaches diagnose problems and give solutions [6].
Traditional coaching puts the coach as the main knowledge source. Person-centered therapy creates conditions for players to explore and heal themselves [6]. This doesn't mean there's no structure. Researchers call it "structured autonomy"—we set boundaries that guide exploration while players find their own solutions [2].
The theoretical foundation makes person-centered therapy different from supportive coaching. Players grow psychologically when they feel understood, valued, and accepted as complete human beings [1]. Personal growth happens naturally in this environment rather than being forced from outside.
Key Traits of a Person-Centered Football Coach
A coach's personal qualities largely determine the success of person-centered therapy in football. Research shows that coaches who display specific traits create environments where players excel both personally and athletically.
Humility and accurate self-assessment
The life-blood of a person-centered approach lies in a coach knowing how to understand themselves accurately. Modern views of humility have moved beyond simple modesty to include "accurate awareness and understanding of self" [7]. This marks a transformation from self-deprecation to genuine self-knowledge.
Humble coaches show specific traits that improve their effectiveness. They stay open to new information that might teach them about themselves and their methods [7]. They also pursue knowledge and truth even in potentially embarrassing situations because they want to learn rather than fear failure [7].
Self-assessment helps coaches develop this trait. Research proves that coaches who assess their competencies regularly understand their strengths, weaknesses, biases, and blind spots better [8]. This self-awareness leads to more conscious decisions and better-tailored coaching approaches that serve their players well.
A coach's understanding of their professional role matters significantly. One coach put it this way: "I think you start off with a whole load of credibility from the position that you're in... so that helps" [9]. This awareness helps them direct power dynamics properly without misusing their authority.
Empathy and emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence (EI) shows a coach's skill in seeing, using, understanding, and managing emotions—both their own and others' [10]. Research proves that EI matters twice as much as IQ or technical skills for leadership performance [10], making it vital for person-centered football coaching.
Coaches with strong EI possess what researchers call interpersonal knowledge: "coaches' appreciation of the significance of developing such skills as leadership, communication, and relational competencies (e.g. empathy, compassion, care)" [11]. This ability helps them recognize, understand, and reason with emotions to benefit themselves and their players.
Empathy lets coaches understand their players' experiences better. Coaches can develop this skill by asking players to "put themselves in someone else's shoes" [12]. To cite an instance, an empathetic coach might recall similar feelings from their playing days when a player feels disappointed or frustrated, which helps them respond effectively.
One-on-one meetings with players offer a practical way to develop empathy. These conversations help coaches "find out what concerns they have about the team, what would make their experience better" [10], showing players that their feelings matter.
Building trust with players
Trust in coaching means "the belief that someone is good, honest and will not harm you; something or someone that is safe and reliable" [13]. This foundation supports the coach-player relationship's every aspect.
Consistent actions build trust over time. A coaching resource explains: "Trust is the product of repeated behavior. Trust will only be built and recognized when you repeatedly do what you say you will" [14]. Coaches should avoid over-promising and ensure their actions match their words.
Two distinct types of trust exist in coaching. Players' assessment of their coach's skills and abilities creates cognition-based trust [7], while coaches who show genuine concern for their players' well-being build affect-based trust [7]. A complete trust relationship needs both types.
Psychological safety plays a significant role - players should feel safe taking interpersonal risks. Team cohesion grows stronger and communication improves when players can share concerns without judgment [15].
Person-centered therapy in football goes beyond technique—it creates relationships built on these fundamental human qualities that support athletic development and personal growth together.
How to Implement Person-Centered Therapy in Football
Players need practical strategies that honor both structure and autonomy in person-centered football therapy. My coaching career has taught me that success depends on creating environments where players feel valued as complete individuals, not just athletes.
Using structured autonomy in training
Players need different levels of structure to achieve autonomy [9]. This delicate balance between guidance and freedom defines structured autonomy. Players engage more when they understand the reasoning behind drills. They connect better with technical exercises after learning how these activities help them develop.
Clear boundaries with controlled choices work well. Players can select from preset drill variations or provide input on practice intensity. Research shows that "direct instruction can be person-centered if the coach shares a rationale for this approach" [9]. Players develop self-regulation skills naturally as they make decisions within established frameworks.
Encouraging self-reflection in players
Self-reflection acts as the life-blood of personal development in football therapy. Players become more self-aware and handle competitive pressure better through regular reflection. These reflection techniques help build this habit:
Journaling: Players should maintain a football journal to document thoughts, feelings, and observations after matches [16]
Video analysis: Match footage helps players assess their performance and identify improvement areas objectively [16]
Structured questioning: Guided questions cover tactical choices, emotions, and communication [16]
These reflective practices help players spot areas for growth and build their own mental models [17]. Regular conversations about their lives outside football improve this self-awareness process [18].
Balancing instruction with player-led learning
Powerful learning environments emerge when coach instruction and player ownership find the right balance. Players take charge of their development while coaches guide them appropriately. Coaches can step back during sessions to observe rather than direct constantly [3].
Small leadership groups create spaces for players to share thoughts and ideas [18]. Players feel valued and heard through these groups. Team motivation grows when players lead warm-ups, modify game rules, or conduct team talks [19].
Research calls this a "facilitative environment" where players make decisions confidently within clear coaching frameworks [9]. This approach leads to better motivation, smarter decisions, and personal growth—the hallmarks of successful person-centered therapy in football.
Benefits for Football Players and Teams
Person-centered therapy in football creates real results that go beyond helping individual players to boost team performance. Players thrive personally and as a team in environments where coaches apply this approach correctly.
Better communication and team cohesion
Players connect with each other better through person-centered approaches. Teams with team coaching showed better results in psychological safety and team cohesion compared to control groups [20]. This improved cohesion covers both task cohesion (working together for shared goals) and social cohesion (emotional connections between teammates) [21].
Strong team cohesion leads to better communication and vice versa. Players talk more often and share more task-related messages in cohesive teams [22]. Central defenders and midfielders usually become communication hubs. They give useful task-related information to their teammates [22]. This strategic exchange of information creates what researchers call "intra-team communication" (ITC). Better strategy, efficiency, motivation, and focus during matches come from this.
Improved motivation and self-awareness
Self-awareness stands as the life-blood of person-centered therapy in football. Players who know their "blind spots" can spot what's holding them back [23]. This awareness helps athletes set realistic goals based on their unique abilities. They end up about 30% more successful in reaching their set objectives [24].
Players feel valued and understood when coaches take a person-centered approach. This encourages intrinsic motivation—the inner drive to achieve goals [25]. Players learn to recognize and control their emotions better when coaches use emotional intelligence. This helps them manage themselves better on and off the pitch [25].
Reduced anxiety and stress under pressure
Person-centered therapy reduces performance anxiety by a lot. Studies found notable differences in trait anxiety (p = .047) and self-confidence (p = .035) between pre- and post-intervention measures [6]. These improvements help especially when you have high-pressure competitions.
Collegiate student-athletes with anxiety and depression benefited from team cohesion through lower stress levels [26]. Research showed task cohesion helped reduce anxiety and depression by lowering stress [26].
Person-centered therapy builds psychological conditions where players can explore and heal themselves [27]. This supportive base helps players direct themselves through challenges with more resilience and perform their best even in tough situations.
Real-World Challenges and How to Overcome Them
Sports environments present genuine challenges to person-centered therapy. Understanding these roadblocks is key to finding workable solutions.
Misunderstanding the role of therapy in sports
A common myth suggests that sports therapy only serves elite athletes or helps with injury recovery. The truth is that it helps everyone, whatever their athletic skills or activity levels [28]. Many coaches see therapy just as physical treatment instead of taking an integrated approach. The sports world needs to clear up these misconceptions to boost mental health awareness among athletes and coaches [29]. A coach's support plays a vital role to help players seek mental health services.
Navigating power dynamics between coach and player
Coach-player relationships come with complex power dynamics. Studies show that power isn't something coaches simply "own" - it flows through social interactions [30]. Old-school coaching tends to be assertive, which players notice as pressure through fear [30]. All the same, players make their own choices more freely when coaches loosen their grip [31]. This shift turns the relationship into an open exchange where everyone shares thoughts.
Integrating therapy without disrupting performance goals
Building the environment with players shows strength, not weakness [2]. Physical therapists and coaches need to cooperate on custom plans for recovery and conditioning [4]. About 88% of therapists help develop prevention programs, which proves therapeutic methods can boost rather than hurt performance [32]. Understanding players' lives beyond football creates support without trying to solve every challenge [2].
Conclusion
Person-centered therapy changes football coaching from a purely directive approach to an integrated development model. My coaching career has shown how this transformation helps players excel both on and off the pitch. This approach maintains structure and performance goals while balancing guidance with player autonomy.
A coach's path to person-centered coaching starts with self-awareness. Understanding your own strengths, weaknesses, and biases comes before you can support players as complete humans. Empathy and emotional intelligence are the foundations that build trust and create psychological safety.
Players excel in environments where they feel valued beyond their athletic abilities. Well-laid-out autonomy, self-reflection practices, and balanced instruction promote better communication, stronger team cohesion, and improved motivation. These approaches reduce anxiety and stress under pressure - a vital advantage during high-stakes competitions.
Implementation of person-centered therapy in football brings its challenges. Coach-player power dynamics need careful handling. Many people don't understand therapy's role in sports yet. These obstacles become manageable through consistent effort and genuine commitment to seeing players as whole individuals.
Person-centered approach shapes football coaching's future. Players need coaches who value their overall development, not just technical abilities. Football therapy extends way beyond the reach and influence of physical rehabilitation - it covers mental, emotional, and social well-being. Coaches who welcome these principles will develop better athletes and more complete, resilient, and self-aware humans who benefit long after their playing days end.
Key Takeaways
Person-centered therapy in football goes beyond traditional coaching by treating players as complete individuals rather than just athletes, leading to better performance and well-being outcomes.
• Person-centered coaching differs from athlete-centered by focusing on the whole person, not just sporting performance and technical skills • Essential coach traits include humility, accurate self-assessment, empathy, and emotional intelligence to build genuine trust with players • Implement structured autonomy by providing clear boundaries while allowing player choice and encouraging regular self-reflection practices • Benefits include improved team communication, reduced anxiety under pressure, and enhanced intrinsic motivation through psychological safety • Navigate challenges by educating stakeholders about therapy's role and balancing power dynamics through collaborative relationships
When implemented effectively, this approach creates environments where players develop both athletic excellence and personal resilience, transforming the traditional coach-player dynamic into a growth-promoting partnership that extends far beyond the pitch.
References
[1] - https://explore.bps.org.uk/content/bpsicpr/1/1/47[2] - https://www.soccercoachweekly.net/coaching-advice/9-tips-to-overcome-potential-pitfalls[3] - https://www.footballsessions.com/post/player-centric-coaching-6-ways-to-improve-a-players-learning[4] - https://www.ewmotiontherapy.com/blog/physical-therapy-football-players[5] - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/376734737_Person-Centered_Sport_Psychology_Practice_A_Framework_for_Working_With_Emotions_and_Complex_Processes[6] - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/23179497_Person-Centered_Support_and_Athletes'_Motivation_for_Performance[7] - https://digitalcommons.tamusa.edu/context/psyc_faculty/article/1000/viewcontent/HumbleCoaches_final_RR.pdf[8] - https://quenza.com/blog/coaching-self-assessment/[9] - https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/11048/4/11048 Garner%2C Roberts%2C Baker and Cote (2022) Characteristics-of-a-person-centered-coaching-approach.pdf[10] - https://appliedsportpsych.org/resources/resources-for-coaches/improved-coaching-through-emotional-intelligence/[11] - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21640629.2024.2359774[12] - https://www.thefa.com/bootroom/resources/coaching/empathy-the-cornerstone-of-emotional-intelligence[13] - https://learn.englandfootball.com/articles-and-resources/coaching/resources/2022/how-to-build-trust-with-your-players[14] - https://www.thefa.com/bootroom/resources/coaching/top-tips-building-trust-with-your-players[15] - https://www.soccercoachweekly.net/coaching-advice/why-developing-trust-and-a-rapport-with-players-is-important[16] - https://thetitansfa.com/unlocking-the-power-of-reflection-in-football/[17] - https://playerdevelopmentproject.com/the-importance-of-self-reflection/[18] - https://learn.englandfootball.com/articles-and-resources/coaching/resources/2024/How-to-develop-self-aware-and-self-motivated-players[19] - https://community.thefa.com/coaching/b/youth-club-football-blogs/posts/the-benefits-of-player-led-sessions[20] - https://www.emerald.com/jwam/article/17/1/119/1247332/Team-coaching-using-LSP-and-team-facilitation-a[21] - http://www.philipatkinson.com/blogculturechange/how-to-coach-team-cohesion[22] - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8008296/[23] - https://playerdevelopmentproject.com/sporting-self-awareness/[24] - https://www.drpaulmccarthy.com/post/the-silent-game-changer-exploring-self-awareness-and-its-impact-on-athletic-excellence[25] - https://members.believeperform.com/emotional-intelligence-applied-practice-in-football/[26] - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283437638_Coaches_and_cohesion_The_impact_of_coaching_techniques_on_team_cohesion_in_the_small_group_sport_setting[27] - https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/20434/1/Person-Centered Approach.pdf[28] - https://hlmsportstherapy.co.uk/2025/05/09/sports-therapy-myths-debunked-separating-fact-from-fiction/[29] - https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/becoming-resilient/202106/demystifying-mental-health-misconceptions-in-athletes[30] - https://ponderingsportpedagogy.wordpress.com/2016/04/07/power-in-the-coach-athlete-relationship/[31] - https://thedevelopmentpathway.wordpress.com/2016/03/09/power-and-control-in-the-coach-athlete-relationship-a-critical-reflection/[32] - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385488221_THE_ESSENTIAL_ROLE_OF_PHYSIOTHERAPY_IN_PROFESSIONAL_FOOTBALL
