Coaches mental wellbeing
Stuart Edwards explains his research into coach wellbeing, how coaches experience stress and what's next.
I’m the Head Coach of the Finland Men’s National Rugby Team, founder of the Coach Wellbeing Initiative, and recently completed a First-Class Honours degree in Rugby Coaching and Performance. My research has focused on understanding the pressures experienced by rugby union coaches and how we can better support their wellbeing and long-term performance.
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The cumulative pressures of coach
My work explored the experiences of rugby union coaches across all levels of the game, from grassroots through to international rugby. Rather than focusing solely on performance, I wanted to understand the human side of coaching, what creates pressure, how coaches experience stress, and what support systems currently exist.
The aim was to provide evidence that can help organisations create healthier, more sustainable coaching environments.
This research began with my own lived experience. As someone who was passionate about learning and developing as a coach, I experienced both the positive impact of good support and the frustration of opportunities that didn’t always feel accessible or constructive. Those experiences sparked a simple question: were other coaches experiencing similar challenges?
That question ultimately became the foundation of my research. I wanted to move beyond individual experiences and explore the issue objectively, using evidence to understand the realities of coaching and identify ways the profession can better support those working within it.
One of the clearest themes was that coaching is far more demanding than many people realise. The pressures rarely come from one source; they’re cumulative and include performance expectations, organisational demands, relationships, uncertainty and the emotional responsibility of leading other people.
Environments and organisations
While many organisations are making positive progress, the research also highlighted opportunities to strengthen the support available to coaches across the game.
Coaching has evolved significantly over the last decade. Expectations continue to increase, but the systems designed to support coaches haven’t always evolved at the same pace.
Coaches often work in environments where they feel responsible for everyone else, making it difficult to prioritise their own wellbeing. I think that’s why these themes appeared so consistently across different levels of rugby.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was not that coaches experience pressure, that was expected, but how consistently similar experiences were described regardless of coaching level.
Whether someone coached community rugby or international rugby, many of the underlying challenges were remarkably similar.
That suggests this isn’t an issue confined to one level of the game but something that deserves broader attention across rugby.
What’s next?
I’d like to see coach wellbeing become a normal part of coach development rather than something discussed only when people are struggling. Supporting coaches shouldn’t be viewed as separate from performance, it should be recognised as one of the foundations of sustainable, high-performing environments.
If we invest in the wellbeing and development of coaches, everyone benefits, including players, clubs and the wider game.
If there’s one message, I’d leave people with, it’s that coaches are people before they are coaches. We often ask them to lead, support and inspire others while carrying significant pressures of their own.
Looking after coach wellbeing isn’t simply about reducing stress, it’s about enabling coaches to perform at their best, develop others effectively and enjoy longer, healthier careers.
I’m continuing to build on this work through further research, practical projects and collaboration with organisations that are committed to improving coaching environments.
My focus is on translating research into practical solutions that can help coaches, organisations and governing bodies create healthier, more sustainable coaching cultures.
My hope is that this research helps continue an important conversation and encourages the coaching profession to recognise that supporting the person behind the coach is just as important as developing the coach themselves.
Stuart’s book: The Invisible Load: Stress, Pressure, Wellbeing and Sustainable Coaching in Rugby Union, is out now. Check it out via Amazon
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