Coaching Considered
Every coach makes hundreds of decisions in a single session — what to say, what not to say, when to intervene, when to step back, what to prioritize, what to let go. These decisions are not random. They are shaped by a set of underlying values that most coaches have never examined.
This inventory is designed to surface those values. It will not tell you whether you are a good or bad coach. It will show you the architecture of your decision-making — the priorities you reach for first and the ones you tend to neglect.
This is an adapted instrument and part of Dr. Mitchell's ongoing research into how coaches understand their own values. It is not a validated psychometric tool. Your responses — especially where the results feel inaccurate or incomplete — are a vital part of that research.
You will encounter 10 sets of 5 statements. Each statement describes something a coach might prioritize. Rank all 5 statements in each set from 5 (highest priority for you) to 1 (lowest priority for you). Use each number exactly once per set.
There are no right answers. The only wrong way to take this is to answer how you think you should rather than how you actually are.
Self-report instruments carry inherent limitations. People tend to present a favorable image of themselves on questionnaires. You may find yourself ranking certain statements higher because they sound like what a "good coach" should value. Try to resist that impulse. Answer based on what you actually do, not what you aspire to do.
What you say you value and what you actually do in practice may be two different things. This inventory captures the former. Your coaching captures the latter. The distance between them is where the real work begins.
Adapted from the Value Orientation Inventory (Ennis & Chen, 1993) by Dr. Hayden Mitchell for strength & conditioning, sport, and movement coaches. This is an unverified adaptation and part of ongoing research. Your critique is critical.