The Relationship Between Athlete Perceptions of Coaching Leadership Behaviors and Athlete Grit

Authors

Landon Braun, University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeFollow
Lindsay Ross-Stewart, Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleFollow
BARBARA B. MEYER, University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeFollow

Abstract

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(5): 12-23, 2023. Coach leadership style has long been positively correlated with athlete experiences such as motivation, health (i.e., burnout), and performance outcomes (i.e., enhanced execution time to complete tasks) (24). More recently, grit (18) has been positively correlated with athlete experiences such as engagement (39) and decreased burnout (32). Given the impact coaches have on their athletes and the positive psychological benefits of grit, it is reasonable to explore the intersections of coaching behaviors and grit. As such, the purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between athlete perceptions of coach leadership behaviors and athlete grit. Intercollegiate athletes completed measures of grit and the leadership behaviors of their coach. A significant positive relationship was observed between the grit perseverance subscale and the leadership behavior of training and instruction (r =.30, p < .05). Additional analyses revealed that athletes’ perceptions of coach positive feedback significantly predicted their perseverance. Taken together, these findings suggest a link between positive coach feedback and athlete perseverance. Implications of these results for professional practice and future research are discussed.

Recommended Citation

Braun, Landon; Ross-Stewart, Lindsay; and MEYER, BARBARA B. (2024) "The Relationship Between Athlete Perceptions of Coaching Leadership Behaviors and Athlete Grit," International Journal of Exercise Science: Vol. 17 : Iss. 5, Pages 13 - 24.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijes/vol17/iss5/1