adidas’ You Got This Campaign to Empower “Sidelined” Athletes
adidas recently launched its new global campaign to inspire positive sideline behavior, urging everyone from coaches to teammates to help athletes believe in the power of the phrase “You Got This.”
You Got This Campaign Launch and Overview
Aitana Bonmatí, Anthony Edwards, and Trinity Rodman are leading adidas’ charge to empower athletes. The campaign is based on a global study that reveals 4 in 5 amateur athletes experience unhelpful behaviors from the sidelines, undermining their confidence and potentially driving them away from sport.
Research Findings: The “Sideline Effect”
The study, which surveyed over 12,000 athletes across 24 countries, uncovered what adidas terms the “Sideline Effect”—the significant impact of both negative and positive behaviors from coaches, parents, supporters, and teammates. Key negative actions identified include:
- Reminders of the score during a game – scoreboard shouting
- Giving athletes space when having a bad day – standing back
- Just concentrating on the result – focusing only on the outcome
- Excessive instruction during gameplay coaching
- Immediate post-match analysis – the post-game analyst
Introducing ‘Sideline Essentials’
To counteract these pressures, adidas has developed the ‘Sideline Essentials’, a set of five positive behaviors validated by sports experts and research. Endorsed by sporting icons such as Anthony Edwards and delivered by coaching icon Jurgen Klopp, these practical guidelines aim to transform sideline interactions and could encourage up to 20 million more athletes to participate regularly.
Florian Alt, Vice President, Global Brand Communications at adidas, further explained the campaign’s purpose:
“This latest chapter of the brand campaign aims to help motivate everyone to be a positive influence on every pitch, track and court. We set out to create a campaign to highlight how the everyday actions of those in and surrounding the game can be the difference between a young athlete showing up on the starting line or dropping out. As part of this ambition, we wanted to not only inspire coaches, parents, supporters and teammates but to also give them the tools to help athletes believe ‘You Got This‘.”
Voices from the Field
Reflecting on the importance of positivity in sport, Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves, said:
“Competing comes with pressure—it’s just part of the game, but as I’ve grown in my career, I’ve come to appreciate the people in my corner who have always had my back. Like my guy Nick Maddox—since high school he’s been there for me through highs and lows and his belief in me, his support, and his encouragement have kept me going. He’s not just about the scoreboard, he knows my game, trusts my instincts, and helps me stay locked in.
“That’s exactly what adidas’ Sideline Essentials is all about—having the right support, on and off the court. Everyone needs a person in their corner, giving them the confidence to push harder and believe they can do anything,” Edwards added.
Future Initiatives and Global Outreach
In line with its long-standing commitment to support next-generation athletes, adidas will distribute the ‘Sideline Essentials’ to key partners and programs. Initiatives such as the Breaking Barriers program across Europe, the adidas Football Collective, and With Women We Run will help ensure that grassroots athletes receive the guidance and encouragement they need. For further details on these initiatives, please visit adidas.com.ph.
About The Author
Adrian John Ladaga
Adrian started running in 2012 and instantly fell in love with the sport. He now frequents local road and trailrunning events. For him running is simple: "you take one foot in front of another and repeat the process over and over again." You can catch him running in Roxas Boulevard and SM MOA area. When not on his running kicks, he steps in the shoes of a content writer and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) expert.