Sophia Jowett

Olympic medallists' perspective of the althlete-coach relationship

Objectives: To investigate the nature and significance of the athlete–coach relationship within the context of the interpersonal constructs of Closeness, Co-orientation, and Complementarity (three Cs). Method: Participants were 12 Olympic medallists (three females and nine males). Each participant had achieved at least one medal in the Olympic Games held between 1968 and 1988. An interview schedule was utilised that prompted former athletes’ responses to open-ended questions about their athletic relationship with their coach. Results: Feelings of Closeness, such as trust and respect, thoughts of Co-orientation, such as common goals, as well as complementary roles and tasks, marked the athletic relationships of the Olympic medallists. Despite the prevalence of the positive relational aspects, negative relational aspects, such as lack of emotional closeness and complementary resources, also emerged. The impact of the athlete–coach relationship on the success achieved became evident through the former athletes’ narratives and recollections. Conclusion: The nature of the athlete–coach relationship has an important role to play in the athlete’s development both as a performer and as a person. It is recommended that coach education programmes provide information that will assist coaches to develop effective relationships with their athletes.  2002 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Passion: Does one scale fit all? Construct validity of two-factor passion scale and psychometric invariance over different activities and languages.

The passion scale, based on the dualistic model of passion, measures 2 distinct types of passion: Harmonious and obsessive passions are predictive of adaptive and less adaptive outcomes, respectively. In a substantive-methodological synergy, we evaluate the construct validity (factor structure, reliability, convergent and discriminant validity) of Passion Scale responses (N = 3,571). The exploratory structural equation model fit to the data was substantially better than the confirmatory factor analysis solution, and resulted in better differentiated (less correlated) factors. Results from a 13-model taxonomy of measurement invariance supported complete invariance (factor loadings, factor correlations, item uniquenesses, item intercepts, and latent means) over language (French vs. English; the instrument was originally devised in French, then translated into English) and gender. Strong measurement partial invariance over 5 passion activity groups (leisure, sport, social, work, education) indicates that the same set of items is appropriate for assessing passion across a wide variety of activities--a previously untested, implicit assumption that greatly enhances practical utility. Support was found for the convergent and discriminant validity of the harmonious and obsessive passion scales, based on a set of validity correlates: life satisfaction, rumination, conflict, time investment, activity liking and valuation, and perceiving the activity as a passion.

Validating Coach-Athlete Relationship Measures with the Nomological Network

The coach-athlete relationship is viewed as a multidimensional situational construct containing three factors: namely, closeness, commitment, and complementarity (3 Cs) that can be captured from a direct perspective and a meta-perspective. This conceptualization is primarily based on research conducted with samples that mix student and non-student athletes. This study aimed to examine the factorial structure of the direct and meta-perspective versions of the Coach-Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (CART-Q) in a sample of student athletes. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the validity of a model with separate yet correlated factors for the 3 Cs. Furthermore, the 3 Cs were found to be related in a conceptually coherent manner with such outcome variables as support from coach, significance of the relationship (depth), and the level of conflict experienced in the relationship. The results contribute further evidence to the utility of the CART-Q for the assessment of the quality of the coach-athlete relationship in student athletes.

Perceived empathy, accurate empathy and relationship satisfaction in heterosexual couples

One aim of this study was to test a model derived from Cutrona that conflict and depression partially mediate the relation between perceived and accurate empathy and relationship satisfaction. This was investigated in 149 heterosexual couples using dyadic analysis. As accurate empathy was not significantly related to relationship satisfaction when actual and assumed similarities were controlled, this model was only examined with perceived empathy. Apart from conflict in men, the actor effects of the model were supported. Perceived empathy was positively associated with relationship satisfaction and negatively associated with depression and conflict. Depression and conflict were negatively associated with relationship satisfaction. There were two partner effects. Conflict in women was significantly associated with depression and relationship dissatisfaction in men.

Relationship interdependence and satisfaction with important outcomes in coach–athlete dyads

The study investigated the association between coach–athlete relationship interdependence and satisfaction level as a function of competition level, relationship length, and gender composition. A series of multilevel modelling analyses found that the associations between relationship interdependence and sport-related satisfaction were weaker for lower-level competitors than they were for higher-level competitors, as well as for short-term relationships compared to long-term relationships. We also found that all female dyads were more satisfied with training and instruction than other gender combinations. Moreover, the associations between relationship interdependence and sport-related satisfaction were weaker for female coach-male athlete dyads than they were for other gender combination dyads. The findings and their implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Race/Ethnicity in the all‐male coach‐athlete relationship: Black footballers’ narratives

Abstract The quality of the coach‐athlete relationship can be affected by multiple factors. These factors include physical in terms of performance, psychological in terms of motivation, social in terms of “significant others,” and environmental in terms of culture. This study explores the impact of race/ethnicity on the coach‐athlete relationship by utilizing a qualitative research design. A semi‐structured interview schedule was developed to examine the meaning twelve (12) black soccer players ascribe to the athletic relationship with their respective white coaches. Analysis revealed that a number of participants viewed the ethnic background as a meaningful and influential factor for the relationships that they had developed with their coaches in two ways: content and intensity of bond. Participants’ narratives revealed that the opportunity to be coached by a black coach would have allowed a higher degree of communication exchange and empathy. The results are discussed in relation to previous literature.

Relationship Maintenance Strategies in the Coach-Athlete Relationship: The Development of the COMPASS Model

The investigation of relationship maintenance strategies has received considerable attention in various types of dyads including romantic, marital, and familial relationships. No research, however, has yet investigated the use of maintenance strategies in the coach-athlete partnership. Thus, this study aimed to investigate coaches’ and athletes’ perceptions of the strategies they use to maintain relationship quality. Twelve one-to-one interviews with coaches (4 males and 2 females) and athletes (2 males and 4 females) were conducted. The interviews were structured based on the factors within Jowetts (2007) 3+1C conceptualization of the coach-athlete relationship (i.e., closeness, commitment, complementarity, and co-orientation). Deductive and inductive content analysis revealed seven main categories: conflict management, openness, motivation, positivity, advice, support, and social networks. The COMPASS model was developed based on this analysis and was offered as a theoretical framework for understanding how coaches and athletes might maintain the quality of their relationships.

Effects of coach leadership and coach–athlete relationship on collective efficacy

The study examined the independent and combined effects of coach leadership and coaching relationships on team efficacy. A total of 150 sport performers from football teams across a range of competitive levels completed a multisection self‐report instrument to assess their individual perceptions of the level of collective efficacy, the type of coach leadership, and the quality of the coach–athlete relationship. Multiple regression analyses revealed that perceptions of both coach leadership and the coach–athlete relationship predicted variance in team efficacy. Overall, the findings suggest that the quality of coach–athlete relationships added to the prediction of individuals’ collective efficacy beyond what was predicted by coaches’ behaviors of leadership alone. Limitations and future research directions are discussed.

Success and Failure, Fear of Failure, and Coping Responses of Adolescent Academy Football Players

The study examined fear of failure among 81 male adolescent football players (age 16–18 years) in English football academies. Four players who reported high fear of failure were interviewed. They perceived the consequences of failure to be both interpersonal and intrapersonal. Fear of failure affected their sporting performance and interpersonal behavior. They employed predominantly ineffective coping strategies to deal with fear of failure, and both effective and ineffective strategies to deal with failure experiences. The findings of this study enhance understanding of the fear of failure construct in sport, contributing both to research and practice.

Alcohol industry sponsorship and hazardous drinking in UK university students who play sport

AIM To examine whether receipt of alcohol industry sponsorship is associated with problematic drinking in UK university students who play sport. METHODS University students (n = 2450) participating in sports were invited to complete a pen-and-paper questionnaire by research staff approaching them at sporting facilities and in university settings. Respondents were asked whether they, personally, their team and/or their club were currently in receipt of sponsorship (e.g. money, free or subsidized travel or sporting products) from an alcohol-related industry (e.g. bars, liquor stores, wholesalers), and whether they had solicited the sponsorship. Drinking was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). RESULTS Questionnaires were completed by 2048 of those approached (response rate = 83%). Alcohol industry sponsorship was reported by 36% of the sample. After accounting for confounders (age, gender, disposable income and location) in multivariable models, receipt of alcohol sponsorship by a team (adjusted βadj  = 0.41, P = 0.013), club (βadj  = 0.73, P = 0.017), team and club (βadj  = 0.79, P = 0.002) and combinations of individual and team or club sponsorships (βadj  = 1.27, P < 0.002) were each associated with significantly higher AUDIT-consumption substance scores. Receipt of sponsorship by team and club [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.04; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04-3.99] and combinations of individual and team or club sponsorships (aOR = 4.12; 95% CI = 1.29-13.15) were each associated with increased odds of being classified a hazardous drinker (AUDIT score >8). Respondents who sought out sponsorship were not at greater risk than respondents, or whose teams or clubs, had been approached by the alcohol industry. CONCLUSIONS University students in the United Kingdom who play sport and who personally receive alcohol industry sponsorship or whose club or team receives alcohol industry sponsorship appear to have more problematic drinking behaviour than UK university students who play sport and receive no alcohol industry sponsorship. Policy to reduce or cease such sponsorship should be considered.