Factors Affecting the Ability of Coaches to Estimate Their Athletes’ Trait and State Anxiety Levels

This study assessed the ability of coaches to estimate their athletes’ A-trait and A-state levels, examined variables influencing this ability, and attempted to identify what physical or behavioral cues coaches use in assessing the anxiety levels of their athletes. Collegiate cross-country coaches (N=126) and athletes served as subjects. Overall, the coaches were found to be inaccurate estimators of both levels, accounting for less than 8% of the variance. Multiple regression analyses also revealed that the coach’s age was a significant predictor of ability to assess an athlete’s A-trait level, and the size of the team affected a coach’s A-state estimating ability. Coaches of women’s teams were significantly more accurate than coaches of men’s teams in their estimates of A-trait and A-state levels. Finally, coaches rated changes in athletes’ communication levels and behavior patterns as the most important cues to look for when assessing anxiety levels.