Exploring the construct of the coach-team relationship: characteristics, consequences and antecedents

Booth, Samuel John ORCID: 0009-0009-3537-4700 (2026). Exploring the construct of the coach-team relationship: characteristics, consequences and antecedents. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This thesis investigates the coach-team relationship (CTR) in youth sport, advancing understanding beyond the traditionally dyadic coach-athlete relationship (CAR) toward a relationally attuned, team-level construct. Employing a multi-method design, the research comprises one quantitative and one qualitative study (comprising of three chapters).
The quantitative study (Study 1) revealed that athletes’ perceptions of the CAR significantly converged within teams and that team-level CAR predicted key indicators of team functioning (e.g., cohesion and conflict) and individual athlete well-being. These findings provided initial empirical justification for conceptualising team-level relational climates.
The subsequent qualitative study explored the perceived existence of and characteristics (Chapter Four), consequences (Chapter Five), and antecedents (Chapter Six) of the CTR as perceived by youth athletes and coaches. Through reflexive thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews, three core characteristics of the CTR emerged, (1) passion, (2) support, and (3) commitment, each expressed in positive (e.g., harmonious passion, integrated support, attached commitment) or negative (e.g., diminished passion, divided support, detached commitment) forms. Positive CTRs supported several positive task-related (e.g. collective competence, embracing challenge, role clarity, and collective identity) and relationship-oriented (e.g., intrapersonal behaviours, and interpersonal; athlete-coach, athlete-athlete, and athlete-team) consequences occur. While negative CTRs supported several negative task-related (e.g., collective frustration, collective fear of failure, mutual misunderstanding, and team division) and relationship-oriented (e.g., athlete and coach motivational and behavioural implications, and interpersonal; athlete-athlete, athlete-coach, athlete-team, coach-athlete and coach-team) consequences. Antecedents of CTR quality represented individual, interpersonal, and team-level domains, including perceived autonomy, communication, feelings of competence, and trust.
In terms of further theoretical development, this thesis proposes a tripartite relational model encompassing coach-athlete, athlete-athlete, and coach-team relationships in team sports. It conceptualises relational cohesion and disintegration within team settings and contributes novel insights into the relational mechanisms that underpin the functioning of the team, athletes and the coach in interscholastic youth sport.
Practically, the findings highlight the importance of cultivating inclusive, consistent, and relationally sensitive coaching practices to enhance team and team sport athlete flourishing. This work offers a foundation for future research to further conceptualise, assess, examine the concomitants of and develop interventions to promote high-quality coach-team relationships within applied sport psychology and coach education.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):