Coaching Strategies and Sports Performance of Female Athletes

The measurement of perceptions of female athletes about coaching strategies and their effect on athlete satisfaction and sport performance is vital for success. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between perceived coaching strategies during training and self-reported satisfaction of athletes and their sport performance. A total number of 120 female athletes of individual and team sports from seven different universities of Lahore, Pakistan participated in this study. Three different scales were used to measure participant responses relative to strategic thinking, leadership and flow. Results indicated that female athletes Scale for Athletic Performance. The results indicated that female athletes of individual and team sports were satisfied with their coaches’ coaching strategies (p=0.001) and a significant relationship between coaches’ coaching strategies and sporting performance was also reported by female athletes (p=0.001). A significantly positive relationship was observed between problem solving strategies and sports performance of female athletes (p=0.000), no significant association between team building and sports performance was observed (p=0.812), and a significantly positive relationship was observed between leadership and sports performance of female athletes (p=0.000). Based upon results, coaches' problem solving and leadership skills were significantly associated with sport performance as compared to team building. It is recommended that additional research be conducted using different age groups and males to determine a more definitive perspective related to athlete perceptions.

Comparing the strategies used to maintain the coach-athlete relationship in Japan and the United Kingdom

The present study explored the strategies used to maintain the quality of the coach-athlete relationship amongst rowers in Japan and the United Kingdom. A total of 93 athletes from Japan (N = 49) and UK (N = 44) completed the Coach Athlete Relationship Maintenance Questionnaire (CARM-Q) and the Athlete Satisfaction Questionnaire (ASQ). The results of T-tests showed that (a) university rowers in the UK were significantly more satisfied with the coach-athlete relationship than those in Japan; (b) the athletes in Japan expressed higher scores on Preventative strategies than the ones in the UK; (c) the athletes in the UK expressed higher scores on all other CARM-Q subscales with the exception of Social Networks. The results of correlation analyses revealed positive associations between the use of maintenance strategies and athlete satisfaction. These findings evidence the importance of coaches using strategies to maintain the effectiveness of their relationship with athletes as well as the importance of researchers taking cultural factors into account.

Evaluation of the Effects of Tecar Therapy on Acute Symptoms of Athletes Following Lateral Ankle Ligament Sprain

Background and Objectives: Tecar therapy as a modality has been considered due to its reported effects on reducing pain and swelling and finally increasing range of motion and improving function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of tecar therapy on acute symptoms of athletes following lateral ankle ligament sprain in the treatment and control groups between pre-treatment periods, after 6 sessions, and after 12 sessions of treatment. Methods: In this study, 23 patients in each group including athletes with an acute lateral ankle ligament sprain in the acute stage in Tehran. The participant of this study were divided into 2 groups of control with normal treatment and the second group with normal treatment + tecar treatment. Participants were homogenized in terms of age, height, weight, and level of exercise. To evaluate the pain intensity of patients in the two groups and to measure the swelling of the ankle joint, a tape measure (mm) was used. A goniometer was used to measure the degree of ankle motions. The Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) questionnaire was also used to collect data. Results: Statistical analyzes showed that the mean numerical visual criterion of pain in both groups was significantly lower after 6 and 12 sessions of treatment (P<0.001). The results of the analysis of variance showed that the mean swelling in the treatment group and in the control group after 6 and 12 sessions of treatment (P<0.001) was significantly lower than the mean swelling before treatment. Also, the mean swelling after 12 sessions of treatment was significantly lower than after 6 sessions of treatment (P<0.001). Regarding daily life activities and the percentage of athlete satisfaction in performing the activity, the test results showed that the athlete’s scores after 6 and 12 sessions of treatment (P<0.001) were significantly higher than before treatment. Also, their scores after 12 sessions of treatment were significantly higher than 6 sessions (P<0.001). The performance scores in both groups after 6 and 12 sessions of treatment (P<0.001) were significantly higher than performance scores before treatment. Also, the performance scores after 12 sessions of treatment were significantly higher than 6 sessions of treatment (P<0.001). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that tecar therapy in patients with lateral ligament sprain of the ankle joint improves the condition of symptoms after an injury, including swelling, pain, daily life activities, percentage of athlete satisfaction with daily activities, and finally his performance and it can be used as a complementary treatment along with common therapies.

An Examination of the Relationship Between Coaches’ Transformational Leadership and Athletes’ Personal and Group Characteristics in Elite Youth Soccer

There is a growing body of the literature highlighting the positive impact of transformational leadership behaviours across contexts, including sport. However, there is a lack of knowledge of this relationship within elite sport settings. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between elite youth athletes’ perceptions of coaches’ transformational coaching-behaviours and variables that have been linked to transformational leadership in other settings (i.e., group cohesion, motivational climate, self-regulation of learning and athlete satisfaction). Norwegian elite youth soccer players (n = 753) selected into the national talent development program completed questionnaires to measure the variables of interest. Using structural equation modelling, results revealed a positive path from transformational leadership to both task and social cohesion, task-oriented motivational climates, self-regulation of learning and athlete satisfaction. Finally, a negative path from transformational leadership to ego-oriented climates was identified. The findings are in line with previous research in associating transformational leadership behaviours with adaptive outcomes, and further indicating that such relationships may also be valid in elite sport contexts.

Kepuasan Atlet Bola Tampar: Hubungannya dengan Pengurusan Risiko di Institusi Pengajian Tinggi di Malaysia

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti hubungan pengurusan risiko dengan kepuasan atlet bola tampar di institusi penggajian tinggi di Malaysia. Seramai 240 orang atlet yang terdiri daripada atlet bola tampar di 20 buah universiti awam di Malaysia sebagai responden. Kajian ini ialah satu kajian kuantitatif yang menggunakan kaedah tinjauan. Adaptasi soal selidik telah digunakan dalam kajian ini berdasarkan Athlete Satisfaction Questionnaire (ASQ) (Reimer & Chelladurai, 1998) & Asiah Pilus (2009) dan Pengurusan Risiko (Fatimah Mustaffa (2015) dan Jaffry Zakaria (2015). Kajian rintis dijalankan untuk menguji kesahan dan kebolehpercayaan instrumen kajian. Analisa data kajian menggunakan program SPSS versi 24.0 (Statiscal Package for Social Science). Analisis statistik diskriptif dan inferensi digunakan untuk menguji hipotesis kajian. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan terdapat hubungan yang signifikan diantara pengurusan risiko dengan kepuasan atlet. Aspek pengetahuan jurulatih menunjukkan hubungan kuat dengan kepuasan atlet. Aspek aktiviti semasa latihan menunjukkan hubungan yang rendah terhadap kepuasan atlet. Kajian ini mencadangkan pengurusan risiko dalam latihan dan pertandingan terhadap atlet universiti boleh disesuaikan dengan keperluan semasa seperti kecekapan kakitangan sukan dan jurulatih. Kakitangan sukan dan jurulatih perlu berinovatif dan mempunyai ilmu yang baik dalam mengendalikan pengurusan risiko agar keselamatan dan prestasi atlet berada di tahap yang baik. Justeru itu, atlet lebih yakin dengan persekitaran latihan dan pertandingan yang selamat bagi mencapai tahap kepuasan yang maksima dan meningkatkan prestasi atlet. Selain itu, penyediaan pengurusan risiko yang baik dan selamat dapat mendorong atlet atau pelajar bergiat aktif dalam aktiviti sukan di peringkat kampus hingga mewakili universiti ke peringkat yang lebih tinggi dan menjaga kualiti hidup yang normal dan harmoni.

Hubungan Perkhidmatan Sukan dengan Kepuasan Atlet Universiti Awam Malaysia

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti perkhidmatan sukan terhadap kepuasan atlet di Universiti Awam Malaysia. Seramai 115 orang atlet yang terdiri daripada atlet bola tampar di universiti awam Malaysia sebagai responden kajian. Kajian ini ialah satu kajian kuantitatif yang menggunakan kaedah tinjauan. Adaptasi soal selidik telah digunakan dalam kajian ini berdasarkan Instrument for Evaluating Service Quality of Health-Fitness Clubs (SQAS) Lam et.al.,(2005) bagi mengkaji kualiti perkhidmatan sukan dan Athlete Satisfaction Questionnaire (ASQ) (Reimer & Chelladurai, 1998) & Asiah Pilus (2009) bagi melihat kepuasan atlet. Kajian rintis dijalankan untuk menguji kesahan dan kebolehpercayaan instrumen kajian. Analisa data kajian menggunakan program SPSS versi 24.0 (Statiscal Package for Social Science). Analisis statistik diskriptif dan inferensi digunakan untuk menguji hipotesis kajian. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan terdapat hubungan yang signifikan diantara perkhidmatan sukan dengan kepuasan atlet universiti. Aspek staf menunjukkan hubungan kuat dengan kepuasan atlet dan aspek tempahan menunjukkan hubungan yang rendah terhadap kepuasan atlet. Dapatan kajian juga menunjukkan terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan penggunaan perkhidmatan sukan mengikut jantina dan dapatan kajian menunjukkan terdapat perbezaan pengalaman atlet berdasarkan peringkat tertinggi. Kajian ini mencadangkan perkhidmatan sukan di universiti boleh disesuaikan dengan keperluan semasa seperti kecekapan staf dalam urusan tadbir organisasi, berpengetahuan dalam bidang sains sukan, penggunaan alatan moden seperti kemudahan dan peralatan sukan terkini, sistem tempahan dan hebahan secara online, penganjuran aktiviti atau program sukan kepada atlet yang berimpak tinggi, sistem data atlet atau lain-lain secara efisen, kreatif dan berinovatif.

The Validation of Direct and Meta Versions of the Coach–Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (ArCART-Q) in the Arabic Language: Their Relationship to Athlete’s Satisfaction with Individual Performance

Background: The first aim of this study is to achieve validation of the direct and meta-perspective versions of the Coach–Athlete Relationship Questionnaire in the Arabic language, and the second aim of this study is to determine the quality of the coach-athlete relationship to athlete’ satisfaction with individual performance according to sport participation type, sport duration, and sport achievement. Methods: A total of 259 athletes with a mean age of 22 years were recruited from various athletic clubs in Kuwait. Participants completed The Coach–Athlete Relationship Questionnaire and The Athlete Satisfaction Questionnaire. For this study, the factorial structure of the Arabic version of the Coach–Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (CART-Q) was used in Kuwait and was prepared with both direct and meta perspectives. Results: The results of this study show evidence of the validity of the direct and meta-perspective Arabic versions of the CART-Q. The fit indices of the data collected by direct-method were as follows (x2/df = 2.21; RMSEA = 0.06; CFI = 0.98; GFI = 0.95; AGFI = 0.91); data for the meta-method were as follows (x2/df = 2.32; RMSEA = 0.08; CFI = 0.99; GFI = 0.93; AGFI = 0.87). Female participants have obtained higher means than males from all questionnaires. Conclusions: The results of the present study could help coaches and athletes from the Middle East to understand the reasons and methods that lead to a quality coach–athlete relationship.

Satisfaction and the coach–athlete relationship: The mediating role of trust

We examined the link between player satisfaction and the coach–athlete relationship within the organizational environment of a youth football team, and the mediating effect of players' trust in the coach. Participants were 223 young footballers aged between 13 and 19 years, who completed an anonymous self-report survey to assess satisfaction, the coach–athlete relationship, and trust. The results show that players' satisfaction had a significant predictive effect on the coach–athlete relationship, and that players' trust in their coach played a mediating role in this relationship. The results provide researchers with a new perspective for studying the relationships between trust in coaches, athlete satisfaction, and coach–athlete relationships in sports organizations.