Final answer:
The self-esteem of a coach should be based on C) living up to his or her own realistic standards, which focuses on personal and professional growth rather than the less controllable aspects of competitors' actions, officials' decisions, or solely winning or losing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The self-esteem of a coach should ideally be based on living up to his or her own realistic standards. This approach emphasizes personal growth, professional conduct, and self-assessment according to one's values and goals in coaching. It is not productive nor often reflective of a coach's true abilities to base self-esteem solely on the actions of competitors, the decisions made by officials, or the outcomes of winning and losing.
Research underlines that while it's common to attribute successes internally and failures externally when it comes to sports teams, this may not always be a realistic reflection of circumstances, and such a mindset might not encourage personal or professional development.
For instance, sports figures in the media may sometimes attribute a loss to an unfair call by a referee rather than analyzing their own performance or team strategy. Similarly, attributing a win solely to personal hard work may oversimplify the complex factors involved in a team's success.
A coach with healthy self-esteem would recognize the myriad of factors contributing to winning or losing, while maintaining a focus on their own consistent development and adherence to their coaching philosophy.
Using these realistic standards helps a coach to constructively deal with the competing demands of their role which often includes managing their own reactions to both praise and criticism, continuing their education in the sport, and maintaining a balance between the various pressures they face. Ultimately, this leads to a more sustainable career and a positive influence on their athletes.