The power of coaches' emotions: A case study on how coaches' facial expressions impact performance of young female synchronized ice-skaters.

OBJECTIVES

The present study aimed to investigate the impact of coaches' pleasant and unpleasant facial expressions on affects and team performance of young elite female synchronized ice-skaters.

METHODS

Initially, the coach provided a neutral explanation of the exercise, which was followed by the athletes' execution. The ice-skaters then received either pleasant or unpleasant feedback from the coach, completed two questionnaires, and performed the exercise again. The study involved two familiar and two unfamiliar coaches.

RESULTS

Coaches' pleasant expressions increased athletes' arousal/hedonic tone and positive affect, while coaches' unpleasant expressions heightened athletes' negative affect. Moreover, participants significantly performed better after receiving an unpleasant facial expression by the coach. Receiving pleasant/unpleasant feedback from a familiar or unfamiliar coach did not have a significant impact on team pre- and post-feedback performance.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that coaches' facial expressions impacted athletes' positive/negative affect, and that, under specific circumstances, receiving unpleasant feedback from the coach can improve team performance.