As elite athletes face more pressure than ever before, the role of the coach is also evolving.

And while an almighty spray and a heavy hand were once the norm, a more encouraging, touchy-feely approach is now winning over high-profile athletes whose daily lives are often incredibly intense and chaotic.

Juggling the media and fans' expectations of performance — plus throw social media into the mix as well — it is not surprising that statistics show AFL players are more likely to suffer mental health issues than the general public, due to the increased scrutiny on their positions.

In response, the league in August appointed a clinical psychologist, Kate Hall, as head of mental health and wellbeing and Ranjit Menon as the league's chief psychiatrist.

A 2015 study that was published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport showed 46.4 per cent of Australian athletes showed symptoms of at least one mental health problem.

But more than ever, modern coaches are now expected to relieve pressure on players rather than add to it.

Modern coaches like Collingwood's Nathan Buckley (left) are doing things their own way. ( Supplied )

They empower rather than deride.

The best in the game — coaches like Damien Hardwick, Adam Simpson and Nathan Buckley — all do this.

Touchy-feely way wins over players

In the documentary Collingwood: From the Inside Out, Buckley showed a level of vulnerability not often seen from a coach in front of his players after their grand final loss to the Eagles last year.

"I don't know how to lead you right now boys. I don't know to lead you with that experience. I'm sorry," he said in the changerooms after the game.

"I am so proud of this group. I love this group. I believe in who you are and what we bring but I don't know how to lead you right now."

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Being vulnerable in front of a group of other men has not always been admired, but it is now.

At the Fremantle Dockers, where the club recently sacked long-term coach Ross Lyon, the players have been clear in what they want from a new leader.

"We do have a young group. We need a coach that is easy to get along with," All-Australian forward Michael Walters told ABC Perth last month.

"Someone that the young boys can feel comfortable going up to and speaking to about anything, whether it is footy related or non-footy related."

The verbal serves we used to see from the likes of Mick Malthouse, Malcom Blight and Ron Barassi are no longer as common.

Mick Malthouse was known to use a stick instead of a carrot but remains one of the greats. ( AAP: Joe Castro )

It is not as though that approach did not work for those great coaches, but today's generation responds differently.

The days when an almighty spray was normal

It is the same in cricket.

In a different era, before coaches became commonplace, Australian captains like Ian Chappell and Allan Border were renowned and respected for their hard-nosed approaches.

There was the famous confrontation between Border and bowler Craig McDermott during a tour match In England in 1993, when the paceman wanted to change the end from which he was bowling.

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A Channel 7 television camera at the ground was able to pick up some of the conversation.

Border called to McDermott: "Hey, hey, hey, hey I'm f***ing talking to you. Come here, come here, come here, come here."

"Do that again and you will be on the next plane home, son," the Australian captain continued.

McDermott replied with something that could not be picked up by the microphones, eliciting another fiery missive from Border: "What was that? You f***ing test me and you'll see."

Fear takes a back seat to keeping calm

These days, leaders are evolving to be more collaborative than dictatorial.

Trevor Bayliss, who coached England during the recent Ashes campaign, is a case in point.

The Australian led England to victory at this year's World Cup and has also won both the Indian Premier League and the Sheffield Shield twice.

Trevor Bayliss does not believe intensity as a coach translates to high performance. ( AAP: David Mariuz )

His record as a cricket coach is very good.

In an interview with The Cricket Monthly he explained that in his experience, intensity did not translate to high-performance.

"There aren't many occasions when the dressing room needs extra pressure. I've seen the damage that can do," he said.

"I was never a bat-thrower as a player and in essence I think it's a simple game some people try to make as complicated as possible."

His counterpart during the Ashes, Australian coach Justin Langer — who describes himself as "a bit of a hippy" — was not afraid to tell everyone how much he loved certain players during the series.

Justin Langer has led Australia's cricketers out of the ball tampering scandal. ( AP: Mike Egerton )

Before the World Cup semi-final at Edgbaston, he got the Australian players to walk around without shoes in order to connect with the ground.

They then gathered in a group and talked about their feelings ahead of the match.

Athletes are no doubt still continually being challenged.

But while once fear was often the go-to method for coaches in getting the best out of their players, keeping them calm and focused now appears to be drawing the best results.