Coaching efficacy in intercollegiate coaches: sources, coaching behavior, and team variables

Objectives: To examine the influence of (a) proposed sources of efficacy information on dimensions of coaching efficacy and (b) coaching efficacy on coaching behavior and team variables. Design: A field correlational design tested relationships at two time points: near the beginning and at three-fourths of the way through a season of competition. Method: At Time 1, head coaches (n=135) completed a questionnaire containing the Coaching Efficacy Scale, measures of sources, and demographic items. At Time 2. participants were a subset of coaches from Time 1 (n=101) and 1618 athletes. Coaches completed questionnaires on their perceived frequency of their efficacy-enhancing behaviors with their athletes. Athletes provided information on their Satisfaction with their head coach. Results: For female coaches, social support was a stronger source of efficacy information compared to male coaches. Total coaching efficacy predicted coaching behavior. team satisfaction. and winning percentage for men's teams. Total coaching efficacy predicted only coachin2 behavior across womens teams. Within women's teams, gender of the coach moderated the relationship between character building efficacy and team satisfaction. Character building efficacy was negatively related to team satisfaction in women's teams with male coaches. Motivation efficacy was positively related to team satisfaction in women's teams with female coaches. Conclusion: Findings provide novel corroborations to the coaching efficacy model proposed by Feltz.. Chase. Moritz and Sullivan (1999: Journal of Educational Psychology. 91. 16-5-116) and offer some sup port to broader models of coaching effectiveness. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.