Dimensions Coaching Performance: Determining the Validity and Reliability of the State University of New York College at Brockport Student Athlete Assessment Form (SAAF)

Abstract

Literature pertaining to the evaluation of coaches concurs that the process of evaluating coaches should be formalized and specific (Leland, 1988; Levy, 1989; Stier, 1983; MacLean & Chelladurai, 1995). SUNY Brockport has employed the Student Athlete Assessment Form (hereafter referred to as the SAAF), to evaluate the effectiveness of its coaches at the end of each athletic season. Despite being used in various forms for 14 years as a significant data source for the overall evaluation of coaches, the validity and reliability of the SAAF are unknown. This study was conducted to determine the validity and reliability of the SAAF. Between fall 1986 and spring 1991, over 800 student-athletes completed the SAAF. The data were collected and stored, but further analysis had not been performed. Principal Components Factor Analysis with a varimax rotation was performed to develop factors. Only those factors which exceeded an eigenvalue of 1.0 during initial extraction, were retained in the final analysis. Six reliable factors were extracted and subsequently named Athlete Enjoyment, Coach Communication Style, Coaching Skills, Coaches' Behavior, Coaches' Sport Knowledge, and Overall Satisfaction.