Coach-athlete relationship and coaching behavior in training sessions

Coach-athlete relationship and observed coaching behavior was studied in 68 Finnish coaches and their 400 athletes. Coach-athlete relationship was measured by comparing coaches' and athletes' evaluations of coaches' leadership styles as measured by the Leadership Scale for Sports (LSS). Results showed that coaches' democratic leadership style most often correlated with the observed coaching behavior. The affective component of the observed behavior correlated most significantly with the leadership style of coaches. Coaches who take care of the opinions and feelings of athletes seem to have the best contacts with athletes.