Coaching Dyslexic Athletes, Dyslexia Explored Podcast

Several years ago, I published a comprehensive blog post addressing coaching strategies for dyslexic athletes. This work attracted the attention of Darius Namdaran, founder of Bullet Proof Academy and host of the Dyslexia Explored podcast. Darius subsequently invited me to serve as a guest speaker on his landmark 100th episode. The resulting conversation provided valuable insights that I am pleased to share with you here: Dyslexia Explored #100 with Sophia Gomma

The following summary outlines key recommendations discussed during that episode, organized by audience: coaching professionals, parents, and student-athletes.

Tips

Coaches:

• Dyslexic athletes are non-verbal conceptualization thinkers who process information through visual and emotional frameworks rather than sequential verbal instructions.
• Verify that athletes understand the meaning of sport-specific terminology rather than assuming comprehension of standard coaching vocabulary.
• Carefully consider directional communication, recognizing that spatial orientation challenges may arise when coaches communicate from the sidelines to athletes on the field.
• Recognize that athletes who do not maintain eye contact while listening are actively engaged in visualization and mental processing, not disengaged or disrespectful.
• Allow additional processing time for athletes new to the sport or unfamiliar with your coaching approach before providing verbal corrections or redirects. This processing delay typically diminishes with familiarity and experience.
• Provide meaningful context and explanation of the reasoning (“why”) behind new information to facilitate integration into long-term memory, as abstract instruction without context is ineffective.
• Familiarize athletes with clipboard diagrams and visual play representations before high-pressure competitions, as flat visual representations can be disorienting without prior exposure.
• Utilize field-based visual markers and demonstrations when providing directional guidance. Abstract directional language such as “left,” “right,” “east,” or “up court” can create significant confusion for visual-spatial thinkers.
• Recognize that dyslexic athletes typically demonstrate strong intrinsic motivation and desire to learn, though they may experience diminished self-esteem due to academic challenges. Motivate through effort-based feedback rather than generic praise or criticism. For example, “I observed you really tried hard at that—your effort was evident” proves more effective than statements such as “you are already good at that” or “you are not skilled at this.”

Parents:

• Secure your child’s agreement and buy-in before initiating conversations with coaches regarding accommodations or interventions.
• Recognize that most coaches lack formal educational training in dyslexia and may not understand dyslexic cognition and learning needs.
• Communicate to coaches that your child thinks in pictures and learns most effectively when provided with the “why” and big-picture context before exploring specific details.

Student-Athletes:

• Advocate for yourself:
  • If you experience difficulty maintaining eye contact during explanations, communicate to your coach that looking away enables you to visualize and mentally construct the concepts being presented.
  • If you require additional processing time, inform your coach of this need.
  • If you are uncertain about assigned plays, request clarification or verbally describe your understanding to your coach—articulate the mental images you have formed to verify comprehension.
• Conduct independent research: Develop familiarity with your sport through video resources, study relevant terminology, and build foundational knowledge to reinforce understanding and build confidence.
• Engage in mental training:
  • Identify your focused or grounded mental state and develop strategies to access this zone consistently.
  • Engage in self-reflection regarding your responses to challenging emotions: How do you respond when angry, confused, or nervous? What strategies can you employ to support yourself during these situations?