I want to begin by acknowledging the depth and complexity of your role as a coach. You are not just skill developers, you are culture shapers, confidence builders, and the first line of support when an athlete is struggling. I fully understand and respect the significant responsibility you carry in balancing performance demands, athlete well-being, parental expectations, and organizational pressures. Your influence is profound, and the work you do matters.

As you’re likely aware, injury is not only a physical event; it carries psychological consequences that directly shape an athlete’s motivation, confidence, focus, and overall trajectory in sport. Research consistently shows that injury is one of the strongest predictors of psychological challenges in athletes, including heightened anxiety, depression, identity disruption, fear of re-injury, and withdrawal from the team environment [1-2, 7, 9]. These reactions are not signs of weakness; they are predictable human responses to a disrupted sense of competence, control, and connection.

These psychological factors also have performance implications. When an athlete is struggling mentally during rehab, progress through recovery slows, communication becomes strained, and buy-in decreases. This can lead to longer recovery timelines, reduced trust in the return-to-play process, and greater difficulty reintegrating into training or competition [3]. For athletes, this can mean missed opportunities, stalled development, increased frustration, and premature drop-out (in some cases) from sport altogether.

However, just as psychological factors can hinder recovery, they can also accelerate it. When athletes have structured psychological support, they demonstrate stronger adherence to rehabilitation, better emotional regulation, improved confidence, and more successful return-to-sport outcomes [4-5]. The goal isn’t to teach you what you already do exceptionally well; it’s to expand your tools so you can continue supporting athletes in ways that align with your strengths, values, and coaching style [6; 8].

This is where The COPE Center fills a critical gap. While the importance of a transdisciplinary approach is widely accepted, consistently applying it can feel unrealistic amid tight practice schedules, limited staffing, and the day-to-day demands of coaching. By partnering with The COPE Center, you gain practical, evidence-informed strategies for integrating psychology into your existing systems without requiring additional time you don’t have. This integration allows your technical coaching and psychological support to operate hand-in-hand rather than as separate, disconnected pieces.

Ultimately, this collaborative approach strengthens your athletes’ resilience, enriches your coaching environment, and enhances performance outcomes. And, as with any athlete, when deeper psychological support is needed, The COPE Center is your first point of referral for specialized, injury-informed mental care.

If you’re interested in learning more, please complete the interest form below. From there, we can explore how Dr. Erdner’s expertise can support you, your staff, and the athletes you serve. All programming is tailored to your unique team culture, coaching philosophy, competitive level, and organizational goals, ensuring solutions that fit seamlessly within your environment.