Coaching is teamwork! the role of need-supportive coaching and the motivational climate in stimulating proactivity in volleyball teams

Validation of the Coach Behavior in Sports Questionnaire: Towards dynamic assessments using the circumplex model for coach behavior

The development of the circumplex model for coach behavior recently provided researchers an integrative model to assess coach behavior. While the circumplex model has currently only been deployed in cross-sectional research designs using the Situations in Sports questionnaire (SISQ), it has clear potential within research on dynamics of coach behavior. However, the SISQ consists of vignette-based situations and is too extensive for such frequent administrations. Within the present study we therefore developed the Coach Behavior in Sports Questionnaire (CBSQ), a 32-item alternative for the SISQ which consists of general items rather than vignette-based situations. First, content validity of 54 initial pilot CBSQ items was tested in a sample of 34 expert coaches. Second, construct validity, predictive validity, and reliability of the 32-item CBSQ was tested in a sample of 689 athletes and 420 coaches. Third, within-person variability of coach behavior was longitudinally assessed using the 32-item CBSQ during a five-week training and game period in a sample of 31 coach-athlete dyads. The 32-item CBSQ showed to be a valid and reliable alternative for the SISQ. Also, coach behavior showed considerable within-person variability over the five-week period in all coaching styles and approaches. Additionally, a 24, 16, and 12-item version were tested to provide even shorter alternatives. The CBSQ opens new horizons for future longitudinal research and coach reflection programs based on the circumplex model for coach behavior.

Does Fair Coach Behavior Predict the Quality of Athlete Leadership Among Belgian Volleyball and Basketball Players: The Vital Role of Team Identification and Task Cohesion

A vast stream of empirical work has revealed that coach and athlete leadership are important determinants of sport teams’ functioning and performance. Although coaches have a direct impact on individual and team outcomes, they should also strive to stimulate athletes to take up leadership roles in a qualitative manner. Yet, the relation between coach leadership behavior and the extent of high-quality athlete leadership within teams remains underexposed. Based on organizational justice theory and the social identity approach, the present research tested whether perceived justice of the coach positively predicts the quality of athlete leadership. Furthermore, we examined the role of group dynamic processes (i.e., team identification and task cohesion) within this relation. Belgian volleyball (N = 161) and basketball players (N = 78) were asked to rate the justice of their coach, their team identification, the task cohesion, and the athlete leadership quality in the team. Structural equation modeling indicated that coaches’ perceived justice positively predicted the quality of athletes’ leadership, and that this relation was established through three intermediate steps (i.e., from team identification to task cohesion, to athlete leadership quality). These results suggest that fair coach behavior does not only bridge the gap between leadership and followership, it also has the potential to improve the quality of athletes’ leadership within sport teams. More specifically, findings suggest that coaches’ perceived justice cultivates a shared social identity characterized by high levels of players’ identification with their team, which in turn increased their perceptions of the team’s task cohesion. Finally, this increased task cohesion encouraged the athlete leaders to demonstrate high-quality leadership.

Valued Insight or Act of Insubordination? How Context Shapes Coaches' Perceptions of Challenge-Oriented Followership

Effective leadership is a collaborative effort, requiring a degree of complementarity in how people enact roles of leadership and followership. Using a novel online vignette methodology, we experimentally tested how three contextual factors influenced coaches' responses to challenge-oriented acts of followership, as well as investigated two potential mechanisms. Coaches (N = 232) watched videos of an athlete provided unsolicited challenge-oriented feedback to a coach. Videos varied by the (a) athlete's status, (b) presence of third-party observers, and (c) stage of the decision-making process. Following the video, we assessed coaches' evaluations of the athlete. Challenge-oriented followership was perceived more favorably when enacted by an athlete in one-on-one (vs. in a group) and before a decision has been reached (vs. after a decision is reached). Coaches may appreciate proactivity from athletes in positions of followership, but challenge-oriented followership behaviors enacted at the wrong time and place can elicit negative reactions.

Investigating the Youth Sports Development Pathway Within a South African Context

The past two decades witnessed increased participation in professional as well as amateur sport, giving impetus to concomitant amplified interest in long-term athlete development (LTAD). LTAD has been described as the structured and progressive growth of an athlete through different stages of development resulting in some athletes achieving elite sport status. Furthermore, the interest in athletic career development from a holistic perspective has contributed to management approaches underscoring sustainable talent development and participation in sport. The current study investigated youth sports development pathways through both models of development within a South African context. A descriptive quantitative cross-sectional design was used to generate a convenient sample of athletes (N = 267). The Talent Development Environment Questionnaire (TDEQ) was administered, which in previous studies produced acceptable psychometric properties. Principal factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, Monte Carlo parallel simulation, MANOVA, and hierarchical regression were performed to analyze the data. The TDEQ was validated for the South African context and was found to measure four components, namely supportive and challenging environment, development fundamentals, support networks, and long-term development. Respondents in the various developmental categories of novice, advanced and elite student-athletes were not statistically significantly influenced by any of the four factors. Controlling for the talent developmental phase, the model proposed did not statistically significantly predict the development pathway of youth athletes. The results provide evidence with some practical significance as supportive and challenging environment and long-term development focus reported a small effect. Further research is warranted to develop a more suitable measuring instrument to measure the talent development pathway within the investigated athlete environment.

Could recruiting former college athletes be the answer to less pharmacy student burnout?

INTRODUCTION

Student pharmacists are in a notable wellness deficit. Pharmacy organizations are issuing statements and providing resources addressing efforts to increase student wellness. This commentary suggests that institutions refocus recruiting efforts on students with experience balancing the demands of school, wellness, and mental health.

PERSPECTIVE

The purpose of this commentary is to start the conversation on increasing efforts to recruit candidates who already possess the resilience needed to perform in pharmacy school, with a focus on former college athletes. This piece in no way suggests decreased attention on wellness programs or efforts to reduce burnout. Former student athletes, through their training, have increased experience in resilience and may be less at risk for burnout. These candidates will likely have an increased team mentality and acceptance of constructive criticism. Additionally, this is an untapped resource for candidates as only 2% of collegiate athletes pursuing professional athletic careers. Of the 140 accredited pharmacy schools, 82.9% have an undergraduate program that offers at least one National Collegiate Athletic Association sport.

IMPLICATIONS

Schools of pharmacy should consider additional recruitment efforts and admissions criteria weight for former student athletes who meet the same standards as other candidates. As many pharmacy faculty direct significant effort toward the prevention of student burnout, perhaps an additional approach is to recruit students who are already capable of the expected demands. The athletic community may answer both the need for additional pharmacy recruits and provide a cohort with advanced abilities in stress management, wellness, and teamwork.

Team Resource Management Perception Under Managerial Coaching Skills and Organizational Climate: Cross-Level Analysis in Taiwan's Hospitals

There is growing recognition of the importance of teamwork and integration of resources in the health care industry. This article studied the influence of organizational climate and managerial coaching skills on team perception of team resource management (TRM) and coaching techniques in selected hospitals in Taiwan. Structural survey method was used to measure the relationship between organizational climate, managerial coaching skills, and team perception of TRM. The participants of this research were 530 administrative staff from 12 hospitals in Taiwan. Cross-level relationship between organizational climate (group level), managerial coaching skills (individual level), and team perception of TRM (individual level) was examined. The results revealed that organizational climate had a significant influence on team perception of TRM. Second, recognition of managerial coaching skills shaped team perception during TRM implementation. Third, organizational climate had a moderating effect on the relationship between managerial coaching skills and team perception of TRM. The study concluded that positive organizational climate and good managerial coaching skills contribute to effective team management and development. Thus, it is important for health care organizations to understand the importance of coaching and mentoring and create a workplace that makes learning, growth, and adaptation possible across different departments and functional teams.

The Initial Questionnaire Development in Measuring of Coach-Athlete-Parent Interpersonal Relationships: Results of Two Qualitative Investigations

The interpersonal relationship among the coach, athlete, and parent (C-A-P) in youth sports is a complex and dynamic phenomenon. The evaluation of such interpersonal relationship becomes an important factor in trying to understand the overall youth sports environment. The purpose of this study was to begin the development of a questionnaire to assess the coach-athlete-parent interpersonal relationships in youth sports. To achieve our purpose, two qualitative studies were conducted. In the first qualitative study, 136 research participants completed an online questionnaire asking for statements concerning the C-A-P based on an extensive literature review. In the second phase, a follow up phenomenological study design was conducted. For the phenomenological study, 30 participants (10 coaches, 10 athletes, and 10 youth sports parents) completed in-depth interviews. Based on both qualitative study results, the following three themes emerged: group processes, motivation, and over-involvement. The two qualitative investigations revealed themes and 48 potential questions to be used in developing a C-A-P questionnaire in quantifying the C-A-P results.

Can losing teams cope with destructive voice behaviour? The role of game results and athletes' perceived motivational climate

This study examined the relation between losing a game and players' destructive voice about the coach. As team performances would suffer when such behaviours are not managed properly, we tested the motivational climate as a potential mechanism by which coaches can manage these destructive behaviours. Twelve volleyball and basketball teams (N = 136) were weekly assessed during eight weeks using questionnaires. Players rated the extent to which their teammates expressed destructive voice about their coach. Each player's indegree centrality (i.e. the average score received from all teammates) functioned as measurement of his/her destructive voice about the coach. As hypothesized, losing a game increased players' expression of destructive voice about the coach. At both the within- and between-person level, perceived mastery (performance) climate negatively (positively) predicted players' destructive voice about the coach. When players perceived a more salient performance climate than usual after a loss, their increase in destructive voice about the coach was magnified. These results highlight the dynamics of players' destructive voice about the coach and how a single loss can start the utterance of such voice. A coach would be able to counter this process by increasing the focus on a mastery rather than a performance climate.