Coaching at the Elite Level – Intent Over Perfection
In high performance sport, coaching excellence isn’t about being flawless—it’s about being intentional.
In the latest episode of the Performance Strategies and Stumbles podcast, Dr. Ben Rosenblatt, founder of 292 Performance, reflects on the hard-earned lessons that shaped his elite coaching philosophy—from early career mistakes at Birmingham City FC to Olympic success with a national hockey team.
If you’re a coach, sports scientist, or performance leader, here are the key takeaways from Ben’s journey.
Lesson One: The Value of Getting It Wrong
At just 23, Ben became Head of Sport Science & Conditioning at Birmingham City FC. Determined to prove himself, he took a bold, high-intensity approach—only to see a poorly designed warm-up lead to player injuries and, ultimately, his dismissal.
“I pushed too hard, too fast. I didn’t understand the people, the politics, or the culture I had stepped into.” – Ben Rosenblatt
Takeaway: Technical expertise must be matched by emotional intelligence and situational awareness.
Coaching Tip: Ask yourself—are you proving a point, or solving a problem?
Lesson Two: Understand the Environment Before Leading
Ben’s early experience became a turning point. Even the most scientifically sound plan will fail if you don’t have buy-in.
“You can be right and still be wrong if no one believes in your plan.” – Ben Rosenblatt
Coaching Strategy: When joining a new team, listen first. Build trust, identify key stakeholders, and co-create objectives before making changes.
Lesson Three: Empower, Don’t Impose
Later, while working with a national hockey team recovering from World Cup disappointment, Ben noticed the athletes were physically fit but mentally disengaged.
Applying Self-Determination Theory, he focused on:
- Autonomy – letting athletes own their process
- Mastery – building meaningful skill development
- Connection – fostering belonging and shared purpose
“We stopped prescribing and started collaborating. We trusted the players—and they delivered.” – Ben Rosenblatt
This shift led to a revitalised team culture and Olympic gold.
Lesson Four: Context Is King
During Olympic preparation, one standout moment saw the athletes run their own gym session before the final—each doing something different but united by shared intent.
“You don’t need a rigid programme if you’ve built a strong shared vision.” – Ben Rosenblatt
Performance Principle: Align training to athlete values and the competition context—not just generic metrics.
Performance Development Checklist
- Reflect on past coaching mistakes and apply the lessons
- Prioritise relationship-building in new environments
- Let athlete values shape programme design
- Encourage autonomy and shared ownership
- Tailor training to competition context for maximum relevance
Coaching is Human Work
At 292 Performance, we believe the best high-performance environments are built on trust, clarity, and shared purpose.
Ben’s journey proves that the road to coaching mastery is rarely straight. It demands humility, listening, and a willingness to adapt.
Sometimes the biggest gains don’t come from pushing harder—but from stepping back and trusting athletes to rise to the challenge.
To listen to the whole podcast, click here