Coaches’ Use of Positive Tactile Communication in Collegiate Basketball

in International Sport Coaching Journal

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Inge MiliusCalifornia State University, Fresno

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Wade D. GilbertCalifornia State University, Fresno

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Danielle AlexanderMcGill University

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Gordon A. BloomMcGill University

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2020-0001
Keywords:
athlete performance; coaching behaviors; intercollegiate athletics; team dynamics
First Published Online:
08 Oct 2020
In Print:
Volume 8: Issue 1
Page Range:
91–100
Restricted access

There is a growing body of research on positive tactile communication and its impact on athlete performance and team dynamics. The purpose of the present study was to examine the profile and perceived impact of positive tactile communication as a coaching strategy in a high-performance team sport setting. Participants were members of a successful American collegiate women’s basketball team comprising the head coach, associate head coach, and 16 student-athletes. Methods of data collection included systematic observation and focus groups. Positive tactile communication was perceived to be an effective coaching strategy for enhancing relationships and athlete performance. To our knowledge, this is the first study to include both quantitative and qualitative data from multiple coaches on the same team, as well as athlete perceptions of coaches’ strategic use of positive tactile communication.

Milius and Gilbert are with California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA, USA. Alexander and Bloom are with the McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Gilbert (wgilbert@mail.fresnostate.edu) is corresponding author.
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