Coach-athlete relationship and collective efficacy in volleyball: is the association explained by athletes’ goal orientations?

Abstract

The mediating role of goal orientations in the association between coach-athlete relationship (CAR) and collective efficacy (CE) was investigated. Participants were 185 Brazilian young volleyball players participants of a State championship. Data were obtained using the Coach-Athlete Relationship Questionnaire, Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire and Collective Efficacy Questionnaire for Sports. Structural Equation Modeling revealed CAR had a moderate effect on task orientation. Task orientation was associated with CE. CAR had a positive effect on ego orientation. Ego orientation was not associated with CE. When the association between CAR and CE was mediated by task orientation, the relationship explained 27% of the CE variance. The results suggest that a good quality CAR allows athletes to be more focused on their goals and individual skill development, and, consequently, this type of focus allows the team to perform more effectively.