Abstract
Objectives: Regardless of whether the sport environment emphasizes performance or participation, the coach-athlete relationship has been found to be central to athlete development as well as a potential contextual enabler of athletic thriving (Brown et al., 2021). That said, research to date has predominantly been cross-sectional in nature and rarely have intervention programs been developed to increase the quality of the coach-athlete relationship and in turn athlete thriving. Adopting the 3Cs model (Jowett, 2007) and the COMPASS model (Rhind & Jowett, 2012), this study aimed to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a coach-athlete relationship intervention program for enhancing the quality of the coach-athlete relationship and athlete thriving over time.
Methods: We used a nonrandomized cluster-controlled trial design. Coaches (n = 45) and athletes (n = 328) from 15 sport teams were allocated into either an intervention group or no-treatment control. Following baseline questionnaire assessments, teams in the intervention group received two workshops, four weeks apart, and encouraged to implement taught strategies during practice and to complete bi-weekly diary logs. Follow-up assessments were completed at four and eight weeks after baseline.
Results: The effects of the relationship intervention on relationship quality and athlete thriving were assessed using two-level growth models, with athletes nested within teams. Preliminary findings showed no significant change over time in both the intervention and control conditions. Diary data indicated that coaches utilized the covered strategies and attempted to foster positive relationships with their athletes; however, several barriers were suggested to have restricted the coaches’ efforts.
Conclusion: Whilst the quantitative results suggest the intervention was not effective in enhancing relationship quality and thriving in athletes over time, the qualitative data suggest increased awareness for and effort in facilitating positive coach-athlete interactions. Possible explanations for these findings and the challenges regarding implementing such interventions will be discussed.
Methods: We used a nonrandomized cluster-controlled trial design. Coaches (n = 45) and athletes (n = 328) from 15 sport teams were allocated into either an intervention group or no-treatment control. Following baseline questionnaire assessments, teams in the intervention group received two workshops, four weeks apart, and encouraged to implement taught strategies during practice and to complete bi-weekly diary logs. Follow-up assessments were completed at four and eight weeks after baseline.
Results: The effects of the relationship intervention on relationship quality and athlete thriving were assessed using two-level growth models, with athletes nested within teams. Preliminary findings showed no significant change over time in both the intervention and control conditions. Diary data indicated that coaches utilized the covered strategies and attempted to foster positive relationships with their athletes; however, several barriers were suggested to have restricted the coaches’ efforts.
Conclusion: Whilst the quantitative results suggest the intervention was not effective in enhancing relationship quality and thriving in athletes over time, the qualitative data suggest increased awareness for and effort in facilitating positive coach-athlete interactions. Possible explanations for these findings and the challenges regarding implementing such interventions will be discussed.
Original language | English |
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Pages | 1143 |
Number of pages | 1 |
Publication status | Published - 15 Jul 2024 |
Event | European Congress of Sport and Exercise Psychology 2024 - Innsbruck, Austria Duration: 15 Jul 2024 → 19 Jul 2024 |
Conference
Conference | European Congress of Sport and Exercise Psychology 2024 |
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Country/Territory | Austria |
City | Innsbruck |
Period | 15/07/24 → 19/07/24 |