At the 2025 IIHF Coaching Symposium, Nick Rothwell challenged coaches to think deeply about their purpose - why they coach - and how that purpose shapes the athletes they lead. He began with a simple but revealing exercise: he asked coaches to stand and reach as high as they could. Then he asked them to do it again, and nearly everyone reached higher.

“Why is that?” Nick asked. Because there’s always more to give.

At the heart of his talk was a powerful question: How can we ensure our sport operates with the highest level of ethics possible?

Rothwell shared how his experiences as a young athlete shaped his approach to coaching. Many of his former coaches used power- and threat-based methods, relying on yelling, punishment drills, and shame. Modern neuroscience, he explained, shows the devastating effects of such approaches: fear triggers the brain’s survival mode (fight, flight, freeze, or flop), shutting down the control centre responsible for learning and creativity.

“Coaching with fear might get excellence, but it doesn’t build confidence.”

Instead, Rothwell urged coaches to build environments of trust, connection, and curiosity. When athletes frame pressure as a challenge rather than a threat, they enter a state where optimal learning, growth, and performance can occur.

Mistakes, he reminded the room, are not setbacks but stepping stones. “This is evolution, not softness.” True toughness is forged through challenge and emotional regulation, not intimidation.

Rothwell founded Re-Tribe, his company dedicated to creating support systems for athletes, with one guiding principle: respect the past, but evolve the future.

“We’re here to lead people to perform and to be good people — and to not hurt anybody.”

His closing message hit home: “The relationships we have with others can only be as deep as those we have with ourselves.” As coaches, the responsibility is clear: embrace human-centred coaching. Build confidence, not compliance. Lead with connection, not fear.

Coaching Takeaways

• Coaching with fear might achieve excellence but won’t build confidence.

• Emotional regulation and curiosity create true toughness.

• Human-centred coaching leads to stronger relationships and lasting growth.

Challenge for coaches: Are you building a culture of compliance through fear, or a culture of confidence through trust and connection?

Noteworthy timestamps:

• 1:00 We’re here to learn
• 4:00 Background
• 6:55 Respect the past, evolve the future
• 9:15 Lessons from the past
• 11:25 Fear and learning
• 14:40 Psychological safety wins
• 16:35 Challenge vs threat mindset
• 20:10 Let’s be honest
• 22:20 The comet metaphor
• 24:50 Tough through tender
• 27:45 Coaching is leadership
• 33:55 Human-centred coaching wins
• 36:35 Clarifying your values
• 40:00 What will you pass on?