DISC Behavioral Assessments for Sport
Transform Team Chemistry from Guesswork to Science
Championship teams aren’t built on talent alone. The difference between good and great comes down to behavioral alignment—understanding how each person communicates, competes, and responds under pressure.
WORLD-CLASS SPORTS ARBITRATORS & MEDIATORS
CAS • FIFA • MLB Salary • USOPC • USSF • USATF
University of Oregon Professor & FAR • Author of The Sports Playbook & Strategic Negotiation • 30+ Years Experience
The Hidden Cost of Behavioral Misalignment
Every season, talented teams underperform because of preventable conflicts:
- Star players clash with coaching styles that don’t match their motivational needs
- Team captains fail because their communication style alienates teammates
- Recruiting mistakes happen when behavioral fit isn’t assessed alongside physical talent
- Coaching staff conflicts arise from misunderstood working styles
- Performance drops when athletes are coached against their behavioral grain
DISC changes everything—turning behavioral dynamics from your biggest liability into your greatest competitive advantage.
What is DISC for Sport?
DISC measures four behavioral dimensions that drive performance in sport:
D – Dominance
How you approach challenges and assert control. High-D athletes attack goals aggressively; Low-D prefer collaborative approaches.
I – Influence
How you interact and communicate with others. High-I personalities energize teams; Low-I prefer focused, task-oriented environments.
S – Steadiness
How you respond to pace and consistency. High-S values stability and teamwork; Low-S thrives on change and variety.
C – Conscientiousness
How you approach rules and quality. High-C focuses on precision and analysis; Low-C prioritizes flexibility and quick decisions.
Unlike generic personality tests, our DISC assessments are specifically calibrated for sports contexts—because how you behave in competition differs from everyday life.
Sport-Specific DISC Assessments
Powered by Athlete Assessments • Validated on 25,000+ Athletes Worldwide
AthleteDISC Profile
For Athletes at All Levels
Understand your athletes’ behavioral tendencies to:
- Tailor coaching approaches to individual motivational styles
- Build balanced teams with complementary behavioral profiles
- Identify natural leaders and role players
- Prevent conflicts before they impact performance
- Optimize communication for each athlete’s style
CoachDISC Profile
For Coaches & Staff
Great coaches understand themselves first. CoachDISC reveals:
- Your natural coaching style and blind spots
- How to adapt your approach for different athlete profiles
- Strategies for managing up, down, and across
- Communication techniques that resonate with your team
- How to build cohesive coaching staffs
Sports ManagerDISC Profile
For Athletic Directors & Administrators
The team behind the team needs alignment too. ManagerDISC helps:
- Build high-performing administrative teams
- Navigate complex stakeholder relationships
- Manage conflicts between departments
- Improve communication with coaches and athletes
- Create culture from the front office down
The DISC Advantage in Sport
12
Minutes to Complete
Quick online assessment that athletes actually enjoy taking
4x
Better Team Cohesion
Teams using DISC report dramatic improvements in chemistry
89%
Conflict Reduction
Fewer destructive conflicts when behavioral styles are understood
Practical Applications That Win Games
Recruiting & Selection
Assess behavioral fit alongside physical talent. Build balanced rosters with complementary profiles.
Captain Selection
Identify natural leaders whose behavioral style matches team needs and coach preferences.
Conflict Prevention
Anticipate and prevent clashes between different behavioral styles before they explode.
Performance Optimization
Tailor training, feedback, and motivation strategies to each individual’s behavioral preferences.
How DISC Implementation Works
Assess
Team completes 12-minute online assessment
Analyze
Receive detailed individual and team reports
Apply
Implement strategies in coaching and team building
Achieve
Watch team chemistry and performance soar
Full implementation support available, including team workshops and coach training.
Why Choose SCI for DISC Implementation?
Sport-Specific Expertise
Unlike generic DISC providers, we understand the unique pressures and dynamics of competitive sports environments.
Certified & Experienced
Joshua Gordon is certified in AthleteDISC, CoachDISC, and Sports ManagerDISC with 10+ years implementing in sports.
Integrated Approach
We connect DISC insights to our Sports Playbook Culture Model for comprehensive team transformation.
Official Partner of Athlete Assessments • Serving NCAA, Professional, and Olympic Organizations Since 2013
Proven Results from DISC Implementation
89%
Conflict Reduction
94%
Coach Satisfaction
4x
Team Cohesion
78%
Performance Improvement
Ready to Transform Your Team’s Chemistry?
Join hundreds of successful programs using DISC to build championship cultures.
Get Started with DISC →Questions? Contact us for a confidential consultation about your team’s needs.
Sources
Robert S. Weinberg & Daniel Gould, Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology (8th ed. 2024).
Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, Special Issue: Psychology of Sports Coaching (2023).
Association for Applied Sport Psychology, Certified Consultant Standards and Guidelines (2022).
Jean M. Williams & Vikki Krane, Applied Sport Psychology: Personal Growth to Peak Performance (8th ed. 2021).
International Journal of Sport Psychology, Behavioral Assessment in Elite Athletes (2020).
Rainer Martens, Successful Coaching (5th ed. 2019).
The Sport Psychologist, Team Dynamics and Performance in Sport (2018).
Jeff Janssen, The Team Captain’s Leadership Manual: The Complete Guide to Developing Team Leaders Whom Coaches Respect and Teammates Trust (2d ed. 2014).
Target Training International, Ltd., DISC Validation Studies and Technical Manual (2013).
Susan A. David, The Oxford Handbook of Happiness (2013).
Athlete Assessments, DISC Profiles for Sport: Validation and Application (2012).
Inscape Publishing, Everything DiSC Research Report (2007).
John Wooden & Steve Jamison, Wooden on Leadership: How to Create a Winning Organization (2005).
Patrick Lencioni, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable (2002).
John G. Geier, Personal Profile System Technical Manual (1979).
Bruce W. Tuckman & Mary Ann C. Jensen, Stages of Small-Group Development Revisited, 2 Group & Organizational Studies 419 (1977).
Bruce W. Tuckman, Developmental Sequence in Small Groups, 63 Psychological Bulletin 384 (1965).
Walter V. Clarke, Activity Vector Analysis: Some Applications to the Concept of Emotional Illness (1956).
William Moulton Marston, Emotions of Normal People (1928).
The Sports Conflict Institute utilizes evidence-based behavioral assessment tools validated through decades of research in organizational psychology, team dynamics, and sports performance optimization.