First Advisor

Stellino, Megan Babkes

Second Advisor

Brustad, Robert

Document Type

Dissertation

Date Created

12-1-2015

Department

College of Natural and Health Sciences, Kinesiology Nutrition and Dietetics, KiND Student Work

Abstract

Coaching is a complex undertaking and understanding what it takes to be an effective coach is important for coaches and researchers in the field of sport and exercise science. Horn’s (2008) heuristic model of coaching effectiveness organizes and summarizes the previously established relationships among predictors and outcomes of effective coaching. The purpose of this study was to examine the heart of Horn’s model, specifically examining coaching goals, coaching commitment, and coaching values with the five dimensions of coaching efficacy (Feltz et al., 1999; Myers et al., 2008). Using intercollegiate assistant coaches (N=740) this study demonstrated initial reliability and factorial validity for an instrument to use the 5 Cs of Coaching Efficacy (Harwood, 2008) as five value variables. Four cluster profiles of coaching commitment revealed profiles of low commitment coaches, entrapped coaches, enjoyment-based commitment coaches, and coaches who identify strongly as coaches among NCAA DI and DIII assistant coaches. Lastly, a canonical correlation revealed significant relationships between two sets of variables: (1) coaching goals, commitment, and values, and (2) the five dimensions of coaching efficacy (motivation, game strategy, technique, character building, and physical conditioning). Results support the importance of learning more about assistant coaches, coaching efficacy, and further examining coaching goals, commitment, and values as they relate to additional social-psychological variables. Furthermore, the results provide an important glimpse into the understanding of assistant coaches, and imply that future research should continue to focus on the unique population of assistant coaches.

Keywords

Assistant coaches, Coaching effectiveness, Coaching efficacy, Coaching values, NCAA Division I, NCAA Division III

Extent

307 pages

Local Identifiers

Nichols_unco_0161D_10463.pdf

Comments

Fall 2015 Graduate Dean's Citation for Outstanding Thesis, Dissertation, and Capstone

Rights Statement

Copyright is held by the author.

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