Coaching Techniques & Communication Flashcards
6 cards from real CSCS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Coaching Techniques & Communication flashcards as text
An athlete who participates in training primarily for the love of movement and personal mastery demonstrates which type of motivation per self-determination theory?
Answer: Intrinsic motivation
Intrinsic motivation (Deci and Ryan's Self-Determination Theory) refers to engaging in activity for inherent satisfaction and personal mastery, not for external rewards or pressures. It produces the most persistent and autonomous behavior.
When delivering corrective feedback to an athlete performing a squat with excessive forward trunk lean, which approach is most effective per evidence-based coaching principles?
Answer: Use positive, specific, actionable cues and allow the athlete to practice the corrected movement immediately
Evidence-based feedback should be specific (identify the error), positive (focus on what to do correctly), and actionable (provide a cue such as 'chest up'). Allowing immediate practice of the corrected movement reinforces motor learning.
A CSCS discovers that a 17-year-old athlete has been self-medicating with over-the-counter pain relievers to train through chronic knee pain. What is the most appropriate NSCA-recommended course of action?
Answer: Refer the athlete to the team physician or sports medicine professional immediately
The NSCA Code of Ethics requires CSCS professionals to refer athletes to qualified medical professionals for diagnosis and treatment of injury. Diagnosing injury causes or advising on medication is outside the CSCS scope of practice.
Which coaching climate approach is most likely to promote long-term athlete development and positive training culture per achievement goal theory?
Answer: Mastery-involving climate: emphasizing personal improvement, effort, and learning from mistakes
Mastery (task-involving) climates foster intrinsic motivation, psychological safety, and long-term development by emphasizing individual improvement, effort, and growth over outcome and social comparison with teammates.
A CSCS notices an athlete with altered consciousness, hot skin, and estimated core temperature above 40 degrees Celsius during training. What is the immediate priority action?
Answer: Initiate rapid cooling immediately through cold water immersion and activate emergency medical services (911)
Exertional heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency. Immediate priorities are cold water immersion (most effective cooling method) and activating emergency medical services. The principle is cool first, transport second.
A strength coach accepts gifts from a supplement company in exchange for recommending their products to athletes. Which ethical principle does this violate?
Answer: Professional integrity due to conflict of interest
Accepting gifts in exchange for supplement recommendations creates a conflict of interest that compromises professional objectivity and potentially harms athletes by prioritizing commercial relationships over evidence-based recommendations.