Institute of Sports Science

Dr. Svenja Wachsmuth

Dr. Svenja Wachsmuth

Contact
Institute of Sports Science
Wilhelmstraße 124,
1st floor, Room 101
  07071 29-72656
svenja.wachsmuthspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de
Consultation Times (PDF)

Main research

  • Sport coaching, e.g., coach-athlete relationships, communication and conflict management, coaching strategies for youth development
  • Talent research in sport, e.g., social and organizational dynamics in talent development environment, psychological diagnostics, career pathways in sport
  • Intervention research, e.g. development and evaluation of coach development initiatives

Short vita

Since 2026
Sport Psychologist in the Department of Coach Education and Development

German Football Association (DFB)

Since 2020
Junior Research Group Leader „Sport Psychology and Coaching“

Institute of Sport Science, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Germany

Since 2019
Sport psychology consultant of the Talent Development Team Para Table Tennis

German National Paralympic Committee (DBS)

Since 2018
Postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Sport Psychology and Research Methods

Institute of Sport Science, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Germany

2018
PhD "Interpersonal Conflict in Coach-Athlete Relationships: From Theory to Practice"

Supervision: Prof. S. Jowett and Prof. C. Harwood, Loughborough University (GB)

2014
European Master of Sport and Exercise Psychology

MSc Sport Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
MSc Sport Diagnostics and Intervention - Sport Psychology, Leipzig University, Germany

2012
Bachelor of Science, Psychology

University of Regensburg, Germany

Selected publications

Journal articles

  • Davis, L., Wachsmuth, S., Jowett, S., Räisänen, P., Hajo, K., Nordberg, & Sommer, M. (2026). Exploring the Perceived Barriers of Effective Communication Within the Coach–Athlete Relationship: A Sample of Scandinavian Coaches and Athletes. International Sport Coaching Journal, 13(1), 94-107. https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2024-0006
  • Bergmann, F., Wachsmuth, S., Metke, C., O’Connor, D., Dugandzic, D. & Höner, O. (2025). Fostering learning-supportive coaching in a nationwide talent development program: Mixed-methods evaluation of a research-informed soccer coach education initiative. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, aop. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2025.2541637
  • Hauser, L. L., Höner, O., O’Connor, D., & Wachsmuth, S. (2025). Exploring the interplay of functional and dysfunctional environmental features for holistic development: A case study in a German Olympic sport. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, aop. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2025.2576171
  • John, J., Wachsmuth, S., & Thiel, A. (2025). A Qualitative Study on the Relation Between Health and Performance Throughout the Career Pathways of Elite Athletes, Musicians, and Mathematicians. Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology, 14(2), 318-334. https://doi.org/10.1037/spy0000370
  • Wachsmuth, S., Hauser, L.-L., Gierens, F.C., Wolf, S.A., Hermann, H.-D., & Höner, O. (2025). Examining players’ perceived social support across organizational levels and its links to holistic talent development outcomes in German football youth academies. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 76, 102756, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2024.102756
  • Hauser, L.L., Höner, O., & Wachsmuth, S. (2024). The environmental influence on the development of elite youth athletes: A cross-sectional study within the German talent pathway. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 71, 102569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102569
  • Jowett, S., Wachsmuth, S., Boardley, I.D., & Balduck, A.L. (2024). The role of emotional intelligence and quality relationships in athletes’ and coaches’ levels of satisfaction: A multi-study analysis. Sports Coaching Review, aop. https://doi.org/10.1080/21640629.2024.2359774
  • Wachsmuth, S., Feichtinger, P., Bartley, J., & Höner, O. (2024). Psychological characteristics and future success: A prospective study examining youth soccer players at different stages within the German talent development pathway. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 36(2), 276-300. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2023.2224868
  • Hauser, L.-L., Höner, O., O’Connor, D., Harwood, C. G., & Wachsmuth, S. (2024). Talent development environments within sports: A scoping review examining functional and dysfunctional environmental features. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 17, 1105-1131. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2022.2129423
  • Wachsmuth, S., Raabe, J., Readdy, T., Dugandzic, D., & Höner, O. (2022). Evaluating a Multiplier Approach to Coach Education Within the German Football Association’s Talent Development Program: An Example of an Intervention Study Targeting Need-Supportive Coaching. International Sport Coaching Journal, 9(3), 305-318. https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2021-0027   
  • Wachsmuth, S., Jowett, S., & Harwood, C. G. (2022). Third party interventions in coach-athlete conflict: Can sport psychology practitioners offer the necessary support? Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 34(1), 178-203. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2020.1723737  
  • Bergmann, F., Gray, R., Wachsmuth, S., & Höner, O. (2021). Perceptual-Motor and Perceptual-Cognitive Skill Acquisition in Soccer: A Systematic Review on the Influence of Practice Design and Coaching Behavior. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 5470. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.772201
  • Wachsmuth, S., Jowett, S., & Harwood, C. (2018). Managing interpersonal conflict in coach-athlete relationships. Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology, 7, 371-391. https://doi.org/10.1037/spy0000129
  • Wachsmuth, S., Jowett, S., & Harwood, C. (2018). On understanding the nature of interpersonal conflict between coaches and athletes. Journal of Sport Science, 36;1955-1962. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1428882
  • Wachsmuth, S., Jowett, S., & Harwood, C. (2017). Conflict among athletes and their coaches: What is the theory and research so far? International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 10, 84-107. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2016.1184698

Book chapters and other publications

  • Harwood, C.G., Johnston, J., & Wachsmuth, S. (2024). Positive Youth Development and Talent Development: Embracing Dual Intentions in a Multi-layered Environment.  In N. Holt (Ed.) Positive Youth Development through Sport (3rd edition). Routledge.
  • Wachsmuth, S. & Dieffenbach, K. (2024). Coach-athlete communication and conflict. In L. Davis, S. Jowett and R. Keegan (Eds.) Social Psychology in Sport (2nd Edition). Human Kinetics.
  • Jowett, S. & Wachsmuth, S. (2020). Power in women artistic gymnastics’ coach-athlete relationships. In R. Kerr, N. Barker-Ruchti, C. Stewart and G. Kerr (Eds.) Women’s artistic gymnastics: socio-cultural perspectives. Routledge.
  • Wachsmuth, S., & Jowett, S. (2020). Conflict and communication in coach–-athlete relationships. In D. Hackfort & R. J. Schinke (Eds.) The Routledge International Encyclopedia of Sport and Exercise Psychology: Volume 2: Applied and Practical Measures (chapter 14). Routledge: London.
  • Wachsmuth, S., Weise, M., Jowett, S., & Höner, O. (2021). Die Trainer-Athlet Beziehung: Grundstein zum Erfolg? Leistungssport, 1, 5-11.

Functions and memberships

  • Professional Engagement:
    • Advisory Board Member Journal of Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology
    • 2015-2021: Management Council of the European Network of Young Specialists in Sport Psychology (ENYSSP)