Athlete Satisfaction and Motivation: Athletes’ Perceptions of Coaches’ Communication Skills During Off-Field Interactions

Abstract

Coaches and athletes develop relationships on and off the field. While not every coach-athlete relationship establishes effective communication, understanding the coaches’ communication skills can help provide insights to develop positive relationships. This quantitative research study focuses on the relationship between college coaches’ off-field communication skills (specifically, during team meals and travel) and its influence on athlete satisfaction and motivation. The study gathered current NCAA Division I, II, and III student-athletes' perceptions of their coaches’ communication skills, of their personal satisfaction with their athletic experience, and of their motivation to play their sport. The findings from this study suggest a positive correlation between specific communication skills utilized by coaches and athlete satisfaction and motivation. This study has theoretical implications within the field of interpersonal communication as well as practical implications for coaches and sports leadership.