Coaching Styles in Sport: A Comparative Analysis Between Individual and Team Sports

Sports coaching plays a crucial role in developing athletes’ performance and psychological well-being, yet the styles adopted by coaches vary significantly between individual and team sports. This paper aims to conduct a comparative analysis of coaching styles used in these two categories of sport, highlighting their specific features and their impact on motivation, cohesion, and performance. In individual sports, the direct and personalized relationship between coach and athlete favors democratic and supportive styles that foster autonomy and mental resilience. In contrast, in team sports, success depends on group dynamics and the coach’s ability to manage conflicts and promote collaboration, often by balancing authority with emotional support. Studies indicate that rigidity in applying coaching styles can negatively affect athlete performance and satisfaction, underscoring the importance of adapting the coaching style to the context and the athletes’ characteristics. Moreover, cultural and social factors also influence the strategies adopted by coaches. The findings of this analysis can guide practitioners in developing flexible and effective methods that meet the specific needs of athletes from different sport disciplines. In doing so, this paper contributes to the theoretical and practical foundations of sports coaching, offering valuable perspectives for optimizing performance in both individual and team sports. Article history: Received 2025 August 15; Revised 2025 October 24; Accepted 2025 November 05;Available online 2026 January 30; Available print 2026 January 30