Does Fair Coach Behavior Predict the Quality of Athlete Leadership Among Belgian Volleyball and Basketball Players: The Vital Role of Team Identification and Task Cohesion

Abstract

A vast stream of empirical work has revealed that coach and athlete leadership are important determinants of sport teams’ functioning and performance. Although coaches have a direct impact on individual and team outcomes, they should also strive to stimulate athletes to take up leadership roles in a qualitative manner. Yet, the relation between coach leadership behavior and the extent of high-quality athlete leadership within teams remains underexposed. Based on organizational justice theory and the social identity approach, the present research tested whether perceived justice of the coach positively predicts the quality of athlete leadership. Furthermore, we examined the role of group dynamic processes (i.e., team identification and task cohesion) within this relation. Belgian volleyball (N = 161) and basketball players (N = 78) were asked to rate the justice of their coach, their team identification, the task cohesion, and the athlete leadership quality in the team. Structural equation modeling indicated that coaches’ perceived justice positively predicted the quality of athletes’ leadership, and that this relation was established through three intermediate steps (i.e., from team identification to task cohesion, to athlete leadership quality). These results suggest that fair coach behavior does not only bridge the gap between leadership and followership, it also has the potential to improve the quality of athletes’ leadership within sport teams. More specifically, findings suggest that coaches’ perceived justice cultivates a shared social identity characterized by high levels of players’ identification with their team, which in turn increased their perceptions of the team’s task cohesion. Finally, this increased task cohesion encouraged the athlete leaders to demonstrate high-quality leadership.

Athletic justice: Scale development and validation

“…The results confirmed that the scale could be used as a valuable tool in examining the construct of AJ. Since athletes' perceived fairness toward coaches' decisions and behaviors could build a strong relationship between coaches and athletes [ 6 , 58 , 59 ], future studies could use this tool to extend relevant research by examining the relationships between each dimension and various outcomes, such as quality of relationship between athletes and coaches, team cohesion and commitment, athletes' citizenship behaviors, and individual/team performance. In fact, the body of research on organizational justice has empirically found organizational justice have significant relationships with attitudinal as well as behavioral outcomes [ 2 ].…”

“…In fact, the body of research on organizational justice has empirically found organizational justice have significant relationships with attitudinal as well as behavioral outcomes [ 2 ]. Based on the findings of relevant research regarding the athlete-coach relationship [ [58] , [59] , [60] ], the conceptual framework (as shown in Fig. 2 ) can be developed to describe the relationship between AJ and potential outcomes.…”

Impact of Met-Expectation of Athletic Justice on Athletic Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment via Leader–Member Exchange among Elite Saudi Arabian Athletes

“…Unlike previous studies [6][7][8][9] that simply examined the relationships between the perception of fairness toward coaching behaviors and athletes' attitudinal or behavioral outcomes, the current study employed a different approach by incorporating the concept of met-expectation as a way to measure athletes' perceptions of the alignment between their expectations (e.g., their role, playing time, and training within their team) and their experiences regarding coaches' behaviors. According to the met-expectation concept, when organization members' expectations are met, they are likely to have a higher level of satisfaction and commitment.…”

“…Thus, the quality of the athlete-coach relationship is likely to have a profound impact on a team's performance, either facilitating or hindering their success [3][4][5]. While there are several important factors (i.e., leadership, communication, and support) that contribute to a strong athlete-coach relationship, athletes' perceptions of fairness with respect to coaching behaviors can act as a crucial factor in building and maintaining that relationship [6][7][8][9]. However, the topic of athletes' perceptions of fairness has received limited attention in the literature.…”

Exploring Factors Affecting Physical Health Perception Through Sports Participation: A PLS-SEM Approach

“…Moreover, proper coaching practices predict athletes' leadership tendencies within the team. Team identification and task cohesion support these relationships (Backer et al, 2022). Therefore, it is crucial to encourage athlete leadership within the teams (Cotterill et al, 2022).…”