Gymnastik- och idrottshögskolan, GIH

Five coaches working at the highest level of their respective sport in Denmark participated in a five-session compassion-based intervention. The intervention aimed to enhance the high-performance coaches (HPCs) understanding of compassion principles, develop their ability to act compassionately, and strengthen their role as compassionate role models. Utilizing a single-case mixed methods design with a dominant qualitative analysis, we explored the HPCs experiences with the intervention and its perceived effects. Semi-structured interviews were conducted pre- and post-intervention, and quantitative measures of compassion were used to examine potential changes in compassion levels. Thematic analysis of interview data generated two higher-order themes. The first focused on the HPCs experiences with the intervention's format, content, and delivery. The second addressed perceived outcomes, including changes in how they understand, relate to, and apply the three flows of compassion. Findings suggest that a compassion-based intervention, when embedded within HPCs elite sport environment and facilitated by a sport psychology professional is both feasable and impactful. The coaches' responses indicate that compassion training may contribute to improved coaching practices, personal well-being, and long-term professional sustainability in high-performance sport settings.