Coaching Efficacy in Predicting Athlete Satisfaction: A Self-other Agreement Model

Abstract

Coaching efficacy represents the extent to which coaches have abilities to influence the learning and performance of their athletes. Research on coaching efficacy has increased dramatically over the past two decades and identified that coaching efficacy (coach self-rating) is significantly higher than coaching effectiveness (athlete other-rating). This incongruence has called for further investigations. To address this issue, we aim to compare the source of rating (coach or athlete) on coach abilities in predicting athlete outcomes (i.e., satisfaction). Drawing on the self-other agreement model, we assert that coaching efficacy from an athlete’s perspective may have better predictive validity of athlete outcomes as self-ratings (coaching efficacy) often time may be inflated by self-enhancement bias. We used 380 competitive college basketball players and 38 coaches and demonstrated that athlete other-rating coaching efficacy is more reliable than coach self-rating coach efficacy in predicting athlete satisfaction. My findings are in line with the literature that views leader-follower interaction as a process of social construction, and followers’ perspectives on leaders can identify the way they want to be influenced.