Some coaches are convinced that controlling practices will not harm their athletes if they simultaneously are warm and caring. This study, grounded in Self-Determination Theory and Skinner's coping framework, explored these convictions among 179 volleyball players (67.6% female; age = 21.12 ± 4.66 years). Participants assessed perceived controlling and relatedness-supportive coaching styles, their coping strategies, self-reported performance, engagement, competitive anxiety, and burnout. Results showed that controlling coaching related to reduced performance, and more competitive anxiety and burnout. Controlling coaching associated indirectly with these athletes` outcomes through compulsive compliance. Finally, when coaches were perceived to display moderate or high levels of relatedness-support, controlling coaching related to worse performance, and more competitive anxiety. These results suggest that a closer coach-athlete bond may exacerbate the detrimental impact of controlling coaching, as athletes feel internally pressured to obey the coach's demands without internally accepting these commands.
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