Anne-Line Balduck

Identifying Competencies of Volunteer Board Members of Community Sports Clubs

This study contributes to the emerging empirical studies on roles and responsibilities of boards in nonprofit organizations by identifying competencies of volunteer board members. We identified how two types of constituents—volunteer board members and sports members—perceived competencies of volunteer board members in community sports clubs. We used the repertory grid technique to draw cognitive maps and to reveal the perceived reality of these constituents. Our results suggest that constituents within a group share similar perceptions of competencies of outstanding performing board members, whereas they agree less on perceptions of poor performing board members. This study reveals that cognitive (e.g., having a long-term vision, having professionalism), emotional intelligence (e.g., being reliable, being honest), and social intelligence (e.g., listening to others, being jovial/nice to be with) competencies are necessary to be perceived as an outstanding performing board member.

The effectiveness of coach turnover and the effect on home team advantage, team quality and team ranking

The effectiveness of coach turnover on team performance is widely discussed in the literature due to the indirect impact of a teams performance on a clubs revenues. This study examines the effect of coach turnover within a competition season by focusing on the change in team quality and the change in home team advantage under the new coach. The change in team quality or home team advantage can vary according to the team (team specific) or might be an independent quantity (non-team specific). We estimated nine possible regression models, given no change, team-specific change and non-team-specific change in quality or home team advantage. The data are the match results of Belgian male soccer teams playing in the highest national division during seven seasons. Results point to a team-specific effect of a new coach on a teams quality. This article further contributes by evaluating the new coachs success with regard to whether his ability to improve team quality also results in a better position of the team in the final ranking. A new coach will be able to improve the ranking of the team if the improved team quality under the new coach renders a positive team quality.

Short-Term Effects of Midseason Coach Turnover on Team Performance in Soccer

The present study addressed the issue of short-term performance effects of midseason coach turnover in soccer. Although there are several reasons for changing coaches, midseason change is often associated with poor team performance (Rowe, Cannella, Rankin, & Gorman, 2005) and considered to be a way to reap short-term dividends in performance improvement (Audas, Dobson, & Goddard, 2002; Salomo & Teichmann, 2000). Koning (2003) and McTeer and White (1995) argued that the focus on midseason coach turnover is relevant in soccer, as the team composition usually changes significantly between seasons. Three succession theories are relevant in explaining the effect of midseason coach turnover on performance over the short or long term (Gamson & Scotch, 1964). According to the common sense theory, the coach is held accountable when the team underperforms, and, thus, a coaching turnover is likely to occur. According to this theory, coach turnover is expected to have a positive effect on subsequent performance, because the new coach can avoid the mistakes of the predecessor. The vicious circle theory holds that performance continues to decline following coaching turnover, which disrupts internal relationships in an organization. This destabilization leads to a further decline in performance. The third explanation is the ritual scapegoating theory, which assumes that a turnover has no impact on performance. Changing a coach is a convenient means of placating frustrated stakeholders, because performance depends largely on the team’s quality. Empirical studies found evidence to support the ritual scapegoating theory (Cannella & Rowe, 1995; Eitzen & Yetman, 1972). Others argued that the common sense theory was more appropriate (Bennet, Phillips, Drane, & Sagas, 2003; Fabianic, 1984; McTeer & White, 1995; Pfeffer & Davis-Blake, 1986). Few studies empirically supported the vicious circle theory (Brown, 1982). Based on mixed research results, the question remains whether a midseason coach turnover has an effect on subsequent performance. Therefore, the goal of this study was to examine this effect on subsequent short-term team performance. The purposes of this study were to (a) examine whether midseason coach turnover improved results in the short term, and (b) examine how team performance compared with teams that did not have a coach turnover. The three succession theories were used as the frameworks for interpreting the results.

Physical activity levels in 10 to 11 year-olds: clustering of psycho-social correlates

Objectives: To evaluate gender differences for levels of physical activity, for sedentary behaviour and for psychosocial correlates in children, to evaluate whether psychosocial correlates cluster in meaningful ways and to examine whether physical activity and sedentary behaviour differ between children of clusters, differentiated by the level of perceived barriers and benefits, attitudes, social support and self-efficacy. Design: Cross-sectional study using the Flemish Physical Activity Questionnaire. Setting: Questionnaires to be filled out by the children and one of their parents, contacted through the school system. Subjects: A sample of 1124 10- to 11-year-olds (579 boys and 545 girls). Results: Girls were found to be less active than boys, with boys scoring better for social support, perceived benefits and self-efficacy compared with girls. The way of clustering differed between boys and girls. Boys were allocated to three clusters: one cluster with positive correlates towards physical activity, labelled ‘positives’; one with negative correlates, labelled ‘negatives’; and one characterised mainly by high perceived barriers, labelled ‘hindered’. In both genders the highest levels of physical activity were found in the ‘positives’, the lowest in the ‘negatives’. In girls a fourth cluster was identified, characterised mainly by low perceived barriers and low social support. Physical activity levels in the girls of this cluster, labelled ‘indifferents’, were the second highest. Conclusions: More research is needed to further characterise these clusters. To prevent the physical activity decline during the transition from childhood to adulthood, novel interventions need to be explored that focus on children of the clusters with the most negative correlates.