The coach-athlete relationship and how it affects performance in collegiate swimming and diving athletes

As important as the physical side of a sport is to the success of an athlete, interpersonal relationships play just as big of a role in the ultimate performance. In the collegiate sport of swimming and diving, athletes rely on their coaches not only for challenging workouts which will help improve their physical conditioning but also for motivation and support to build and sustain confidence in the pool. The human mind is a powerful tool which can be utilized to the benefit or detriment of an athlete’s performance, often superseding any level of physical preparation. Thus, the role of the coach in an athletes’ life is critical component to success. In this research paper, I analyze the coach-athlete relationships across numerous sports of various competition levels to determine what role this relationship plays in the success of collegiate swimmers and divers.