Transformational Leadership and Positive Youth Development in Basketball

in International Sport Coaching Journal

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Aubrey Newland California State University, Chico

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Maria Newton University of Utah

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E. Whitney G. Moore Wayne State University

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W. Eric Legg Arizona State University

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2018-0002
Keywords:
5Cs; coaching; differentiated transformational leadership inventory; sport psychology; youth experiences survey – sport
In Print:
Volume 6: Issue 1
Page Range:
30–41
Restricted access

Given the key role coaches play in the experience of athletes, understanding the relationship between coach leadership styles and positive youth development (PYD) is crucial. This study examined the relationship of coach transformational leadership (TFL) to PYD. Athletes (n = 203) nested within 28 competitive youth basketball teams completed questionnaires about their coaches’ TFL, and two measures related to their own PYD – Youth Experiences for Sport, measuring PYD specific to the sport context, and a measure to assess the 5Cs (Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, and Caring). Due to the nested nature of athletes within team and significant intraclass correlations, the predictive contribution of team and individual level perceptions of TFL was assessed with multilevel modeling. Individual and team perceptions of coach TFL significantly predicted 59% of the YES-S variance. In addition to team and individual main effects, a significant cross-level interaction predicted 20% of a player’s development of the 5Cs. Thus, athletes reporting above average coach TFL on teams reporting above average coach TFL reported the greatest 5C development. These results provide additional support for TFL as an avenue to foster PYD. Findings elucidate transformational coach behaviors that are related to positive experiences in youth sport and the 5Cs.

Aubrey Newland is with the California State University, Chico, CA. Maria Newton is with the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT. E. Whitney G. Moore is with Wayne State University, Detroit, MI. W. Eric Legg is with Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ.

Address author correspondence to Aubrey Newland at anewland1@csuchico.edu.
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