Athletes’ Goal Orientation and Preferred Coach’s Leadership Behavior: A Pilot Study on Synchronized Swimming

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between athletes’ goal orientation and preferred coach’s leadership behavior, as well as, the differences between athletic categories on the examined variables. The sample consisted of 165 female Greek athletes of synchronized swimming, which were divided into three categories according to their age group: 75 in the age group 13-14, 54 in the junior category 15-17 and 36 in the senior category 18+. The participants completed the Task and Ego Orientation Sport Questionnaire and the Leadership Scale for Sports (preferred edition) during training session. Results showed that in the Leadership Scale for Sports there were significant differences between categories on autocratic behavior the mean values of which were higher for senior athletes compared to juniors and age group 13-14. The same pattern appeared with regards to ego orientation factor of the Task and Ego Orientation Sport Questionnaire. The canonical correlation model, with independent variables the factors of the Task and Ego Orientation Sport Questionnaire and dependent variables the factors of the Leadership Scale for Sports, revealed that the athletes’ ego orientation mainly correlates with their preference towards coaches that provide training and instruction, whereas athletes’ task orientation correlates with positive feedback. In conclusion, goal orientation of synchronized swimming athletes affects the preference towards their coach’s leadership behavior.