CIC CFC Communication & Leadership Skills 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An athlete discloses personal mental health struggles to the coach. The coach's primary responsibility is to:
- Share the information with the team to build empathy
- Listen supportively, maintain confidentiality, and connect the athlete with appropriate resources (Correct answer)
- Tell the athlete to focus on the sport and leave problems off the field
- Document the conversation and post it in the athlete's file publicly
Correct answer: Listen supportively, maintain confidentiality, and connect the athlete with appropriate resources
Coaches must listen, protect confidentiality, and facilitate referrals to qualified mental health professionals.
Question 2: Nonverbal communication cues that coaches must be aware of include:
- Word choice and vocabulary only
- Tone of voice, facial expressions, posture, and eye contact (Correct answer)
- The length of written emails
- Only gestures made during game play
Correct answer: Tone of voice, facial expressions, posture, and eye contact
Nonverbal cues include paralinguistics and body language, which often carry more impact than the words themselves.
Question 3: When resolving a conflict between two athletes, a coach acting as a mediator should:
- Take the side of the more senior athlete
- Allow each athlete to speak without interruption and help identify common ground (Correct answer)
- Solve the problem for them without hearing their perspectives
- Publicly announce the conflict and let the team vote on a resolution
Correct answer: Allow each athlete to speak without interruption and help identify common ground
Effective mediation ensures both parties feel heard and guides them toward a mutually acceptable solution.
Question 4: A coach who consistently models the behaviors they expect from athletes is demonstrating:
- Transactional leadership
- Leading by example (role modeling) (Correct answer)
- Punitive authority
- Passive management
Correct answer: Leading by example (role modeling)
Role modeling reinforces expectations and builds credibility because athletes see the coach live the standards they preach.
Question 5: Which listening level involves the listener evaluating and judging while the speaker is still talking?
- Empathic listening
- Evaluative (critical) listening (Correct answer)
- Active listening
- Appreciative listening
Correct answer: Evaluative (critical) listening
Evaluative listening involves forming judgments about the message's validity while the sender is still speaking, which can block full comprehension.
Question 6: A new coach inherits a team with low morale after a losing season. The first communication priority should be:
- Immediately criticizing the previous coaching staff
- Establishing trust by listening to athletes' experiences and setting a positive vision (Correct answer)
- Announcing strict new rules without explanation
- Focusing only on physical conditioning and ignoring team dynamics
Correct answer: Establishing trust by listening to athletes' experiences and setting a positive vision
Rebuilding morale starts with trust, which is earned through listening, empathy, and articulating a hopeful, clear direction.
Question 7: Goal-setting communication is most effective when goals are framed using the SMART criteria. 'M' in SMART stands for:
- Motivating
- Measurable (Correct answer)
- Manageable
- Meaningful
Correct answer: Measurable
Measurable goals include concrete criteria so athletes and coaches can track progress objectively.
CIC CFC Communication & Leadership Skills 4
An athlete discloses personal mental health struggles to the coach.
The coach's primary responsibility is to: