Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2021-2
Methodological intervention with soccer coaches to improve athlete-perceived coaching competency,satisfaction with the coach,enjoyment and intention to persist
The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of a coaching intervention on soccer athletes’ perceptions of the coaches’ competencies, enjoyment, satisfaction, and intention to persist in the sport.
Equipment and methods: The sample consisted of 117 young male soccer players and eight of their coaches who were divided into two groups: group receiving the coaching effectiveness intervention (EG) (n = 4; Mage = 32.50 years, SD = 14.24) with an average of 3.00 years of training experience (SD = 2.44); and control group (CG) (n = 4; Mage = 28.50 years, SD = 13.67) with an average of 6.25 years of training experience (SD = 2.87), and their 117 young male soccer players from 45 teams, aged between 10 and 16 years (Mage = 13.78, SD = 1.38). Focused on coach-effectiveness, coaches from EG received a 12-hour training program. Self-report questionnaires were administered to the athletes both at the beginning and the end of the intervention. A repeated-measures ANOVA was carried out for each dependent variable.
Results
The results showed significant changes in coaches’ game strategy competency, technique competency, and character-building competency as perceived by the players from the EG compared with the players from the CG. Also, both the CG and the EG athletes decreased their satisfaction with the coach. Thus, these types of interventions are effective for improving and maintaining over time variables related to athletes’ perception of their coaches’ competency, their own enjoyment, and intention to persist practicing sports.
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