Meeting Basic Psychological Needs: One Coach’s Application of Self-Determination Theory in Practice

According to self-determination theory, particularly basic psychological needs theory (BPNT), creating social environments, which support the basic psychological needs of competence, autonomy, and relatedness, are associated with individuals' mental and physical well-being. Therefore, coaches have been encouraged to enact coaching behaviors in their programs based on BPNT. However, few examples exist demonstrating how coaches actually do this. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to provide insight into one collegiate coach's endeavors to support holistic athlete development and promote thriving by using coaching behaviors which align with BPNT in a Division III swim program.