BEHAVIORAL-ASSESSMENT IN YOUTH SPORTS - COACHING BEHAVIORS AND CHILDRENS ATTITUDES

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 15  (3) , 208-214
Abstract
To define the characteristics and dimensional patterning of coaching behaviors, 15,449 behaviors of 31 youth basketball coaches were coded in terms of a 10-category system. Postseason attitude and self-esteem data were obtained from players on 23 teams and were related to the behavioral measures. Compared with rates of reinforcement, encouragement and technical instruction, punitive responses occurred relatively infrequently. Factor analysis of the coaching behaviors indicated that supportive and punitive behavioral dimensions were orthogonal or statistically independent of one another rather than opposite ends of the same dimension. Punitive and instructional categories were part of the same bahavior cluster. The relationship between coaching behaviors and the various player attitudes were highly specific in nature. Coaching behaviors accounted for about half of the variance in postseason attitudes toward the coach and the sport but for significantly less variance in measures of team solidarity and self-esteem. The rate of positive reinforcement was unrelated to any of the attitudinal measures. Punishment was negatively related to liking for the coach. In general, technical instruction categories were the strongest predictors of basketball player attitudes.

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