The development of mental skills is widely regarded as a key component of effective sporting performance and athlete well-being. However, the extent to which coaches integrate mental training into their coaching practice is unclear. This systematic-narrative review examined coaches’ perceptions and use of mental training, as well as the perceived barriers to integrating mental training into coaching practice. A structured literature search was conducted across Academic Search Complete, APA PsycArticles, APA PsycInfo, SPORTDiscus, and Google Scholar, guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) principles. Studies published in English from 1985 to 2025 that focused on coaches’ perceptions, knowledge, or use of mental training in sport were included. Twenty-six studies met these criteria and were analysed using a narrative thematic approach. Coaches consistently identified mental skills such as confidence, concentration, and emotional control as crucial in athletic performance and well-being of athletes. Commonly reported strategies for developing mental skills, included goal setting, self-talk, imagery, and relaxation. However, coaches reported using these strategies informally and inconsistently. Barriers to implementing mental training consistently in coaching practice included; limited knowledge and training in sport psychology, low confidence in delivering, time pressures, unclear roles, and a lack of organisational support. A gap persists between coaches’ positive attitudes toward mental training and its limited integration into coaching practice. Addressing this gap will require enhanced coach education and stronger collaboration between sport psychology practitioners and researchers, coach educators, and sporting organisations.
Hackett et al. (Wed,) studied this question.