Coaching Styles and its Effect on Team Performance

Abstract

In order to find what coaching styles works best for performance and team qualities the leadership scale for sport and multidimensional model for leadership were used. The leadership scale for sport measures the major styles of coaching while the multidimensional model of leadership measure three aspects of a relationship that can determine successful coaching. In order to find information that was accurate and relatable to the topic, search terms like “coaching” “cohesion” and “performance” were used. After articles were found, results and findings were drawn from a synthesis article grid (appendix C). Themes and subthemes were then created from the articles and it was determined that coaching styles effect performance from the youth and high school levels all the way up through college and professional ranks. Findings showed the styles that were most prevalent in the lower levels (youth and high school) were democratic and social support due to the fact that those levels deal more with development and having fun. Surveys from studies on lower levels concluded that the more these styles were used, the more the athletes felt free and wanted to compete at their best. A democratic style of coaching was prevalent in higher levels, as it leads to more team cohesion and better freedom for athletes as well. One style that was not a popular style for any level was an autocratic style because it did not allow autonomy or freedom that athletes need to succeed. After the styles were introduced through the models and literature, implementation strategies were mentioned to help coaches put the styles to good use. It is important to understand the types of coaching styles, the ways to implement them, as well as knowing how each style increases performance and cohesion in higher levels as well as lower levels of sport.