Influence of coach profile on the design of training tasks in initiation to football. A case study

The aims of the present study were to analyze the self-defined profile of initiation-to-football coaches and to evaluate their acting behaviours during two competitive mesocycles in youth football. 323 training tasks of three coaches were analyzed. Self-defined profiles were identified through the questionnaires: i) Coaches Orientation; ii) Scale of Knowledge and Capabilities; iii) Decision Styles in Sport; and iv) Sports Planning Style. The pedagogical and organizational variables during the training tasks were classified using the SIATE tool. The statistics Chi square (divided by 2), Phi coefficient (oc), Fisher's exact test (f), and Adjusted Standardized Residuals (ASR) were used to identify differences and association degree between variables. Coaches' self-defined profile directly influences the design of training tasks with a moderate-to-high association degree (divided by 2=174.692-24.409; oc=0.520-0.194). Therefore, their analysis is essential for coaches' training improvement and teaching-learning process in initiation to football.