Coaching Like a Director
Why Athletes Need Playable Direction
Before I became a Somatic Performance Coach, I spent years as both a college volleyball coach and a film & theatre director. I worked with actors on stage and screen, guiding performances that would feel authentic, alive, and emotionally charged.
Strangely enough, when I shifted from coaching athletes to directing actors, it felt completely natural—because for me, the two were almost the same.
In both fields, my job was to guide performers under pressure, helping them execute with precision, intensity, and presence. And in both fields, I learned the same lesson: vague direction kills performance.
Because, at their core, actors and athletes face the same challenge: they need clear, actionable direction in high-pressure moments.
There’s a moment on every set that separates good directors from bad ones.
An actor delivers a line, and something is off. The emotion isn’t landing. The moment doesn’t feel alive.
The bad director barks, “Be angrier! More intensity!”
The good director leans in and says, “When you say that line, show him that if he does that again, you’ll throw him out of the house.”
Suddenly, the performance changes. The stakes become real. The actor isn’t just playing “anger”—they’re playing an intention. And that intention gives them something they can do, something they can embody.
It’s the same in sports.
Telling an athlete, “Work harder!” or “Be better!” is the coaching equivalent of telling an actor to “be angrier.” It’s vague. It’s unplayable. And worse—it often triggers a threat response that shuts performance down rather than elevating it.
Great coaches, like great directors, understand that performance thrives when intention is clear.
The Script and the Game Plan
Whether I was directing a film, a music video, or a play, the script was the game plan. You stick to it, but within it, you make choices. You adjust. You bring life to the words in a way that makes them feel authentic.
Athletes have a game plan too. They have systems, strategies, and tactics they must follow. But if they don’t understand how to bring those systems to life—if they don’t know what their intention is—then they’ll either hesitate or fall into automatic, uninspired play.
A director helps actors make the script work for them. A coach helps athletes make the game plan work for them. And the way to do that?
Give them playable direction.
The Problem with Bad Direction
Most bad direction—whether in acting or sports—comes down to one thing: a lack of clarity.
When a director shouts, “Give me more energy!” the actor is left guessing. Does that mean louder? Faster? More desperate? More aggressive?
When a coach yells, “Come on, work harder!” the athlete is left guessing. Do they need to move their feet more? Do they need to change their body position? Are they not going fast enough? Strong enough? Smart enough?
This lack of clarity puts pressure on the performer to figure it out on their own—which some can do, but most will struggle with.
And when people struggle under unclear demands, one of two things happens:
They push harder, but without precision. (Result: inefficiency, frustration, or injury.)
They freeze. (Result: hesitation, self-doubt, and lower performance.)
In acting, this leads to wooden performances. In sports, this leads to sloppy play or fear-based decision-making.
So what’s the fix?
Giving Athletes Playable Direction
Instead of vague demands, give your athletes a clear, actionable cue they can execute in the moment.
This is where the Soma Sport Head, Heart, and Gut framework comes in. Instead of saying, “Be aggressive!” (which is vague and unplayable), you give an adjustment based on where they need to be grounded.
Head Cue (Tactical Clarity): “Before you attack, scan the block. Can you see where the seam is?”
Heart Cue (Emotional Connection): “Celebrate that point like it’s a game-winner—bring your team with you.”
Gut Cue (Instinct & Power): “Explode on that first step—imagine launching off a springboard.”
These are playable. They give the athlete a direction to execute, not just a feeling to manufacture.
How the Best Directors (and Coaches) Get the Best Performances
Some of the greatest film directors are known for giving actors incredibly playable, intention-driven direction.
Sidney Lumet: "What do you want?"
Lumet, director of Dog Day Afternoon and 12 Angry Men, would ask actors what their character wanted in every scene. It forced them to think in terms of intention, not emotion. In sports, this is the equivalent of asking, “What’s your job in this moment?” instead of “Get it done!”
Coaching Like Clint Eastwood: Trust and Precision
Clint Eastwood is famous for his no-nonsense directing style. He doesn’t do dozens of takes. He casts well, selects actors he trusts, and expects them to bring their best to the first take. He doesn’t micromanage their performances—he gives them a clear framework and lets them execute.
Great coaches do the same.
Instead of overloading athletes with corrections or constantly intervening, they create a structure where athletes own their execution. They trust their players to bring their best. They don’t micromanage every rep—but they hold them to a high standard and step in when needed.
Coaching isn’t about controlling every moment. It’s about setting the conditions for great performances to emerge.
Martin Scorsese: "Let it be messy."
Scorsese often allows actors to play within the structure, making performances feel alive. This applies to coaching as well—structure and systems are critical, but players need room to adjust, interpret, and make the game their own.
The best coaches—like the best directors—understand that performance is lived, not dictated.
Hold the Container, But Make It Playable
Holding a strong container means setting clear expectations. It means having a game plan. It means demanding a high standard.
But within that container, athletes need playable direction—guidance that helps them embody the moment rather than overthink it.
Next time you catch yourself saying, “Come on, be better!”—stop. Ask yourself, “What’s the playable cue here?” What can I give them that actually lands?
That’s the difference between a frustrated coach and a transformational one.
And that’s how you bring performances—on the court, the field, or the stage—to life.
Want to Learn More?
I work with coaches and teams to build embodied coaching strategies that improve performance, resilience, and team culture. If you’re interested in bringing this work to your program, let’s talk.