Male and female coach-player interaction

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to compare male and female coach-player interaction on a interpersonal level. A secondary purpose was to identify gender differences in coach-player interaction of female athletes. Coach-player interaction was measured by the Medford Coach-Player Interaction Inventory (Thorpe & Medford, 1986). Subjects were head coaches and team members of six Division I women's basketball teams: three teams with male head coaches and three teams with female head coaches. State origin of participating teams were from: Ohio, 3; Michigan, 1; Illinois, 1; and Virginia, 1. The total number of participating athletes was 73. In the first t-test, intercollegiate teams coached by females were compared with those coached by males. Results indicated a more positive coach-player interaction on intercollegiate female coached teams. In the second t-test, the intercollegiate female coached group compared the athletes opposite gender high school coach. Results indicated a more positive coach-player interaction on intercollegiate female coached teams and athletes with the same gender high school coach.