Coach Education, Competition Experience and Players’ Perception of Coach Competence as Predictors of Performance in the Kenyan National Leagues
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Date
2022
Authors
Mucheke, Charles
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Abstract
Technical and tactical coach education attributes constitutes part of coaching pedagogy. However,
research on the technical and tactical aspects of coach education has been scanty. Technical and
tactical coach education attributes evaluated on team performance in competition in this study were;
coach academic status, professional qualification, past playing and competition experience. Also the
players’ perception of coach competence and its influence on team performance in sport competitions
was assessed. The study was informed by experiential learning theory and a Cross-Sectional survey
design was used. The sample size of the study was 53 coaches and 500 players who were randomly
selected. The Leadership Scale for Sport questionnaire (LSS) instrument and a self-administered
questionnaire were used to collect data. Data was expressed in frequencies and percentages and
presented in tables and graphs. Chi-Square was used for data analysis and Fisher’s exact test to
determine the strength of the outcomes. Findings showed that the coach academic status significantly
influenced team performance in soccer (χ2 =30.292 and P = 0.000) and coach academic status
significantly influenced team performance in volleyball (χ2 =15.251 and P = 0.018). However, no
significant difference was reported on the influence of the coach professional qualification on the
team performance in both soccer (χ2 = 25.180and P = 0.120) and volleyball (χ2 =25.180a and P =
0.120) teams. A significant difference was reported on the influence of the coach competition
experience and team performance in both soccer (χ2 = 30.292 and P = 0.000) and volleyball (χ2 =
23.910 and P = 0.001) teams. In addition, a significant difference was reported on the influence of the
coach playing experience and team performance in both soccer (χ2 =23.910 and P = 0.002) and
volleyball (χ2 = 21.695 and P = 0.001) teams. However, no significant difference was reported on the
influence of the coach professional qualification on the team performance in both soccer (χ2 = 11.467
and P = 0.489) and volleyball (χ2 =11.897 and P = 0.119) teams. It was however found that the
coaches’ gender had no significant influence on team performance. Further, based on the study
discoveries, it was also established that perceptions of soccer players on the coaches training,
rewarding behaviour, autocratic behaviour and social support predict team performance in the
Kenyan national soccer leagues. However, a perception of players on the coaches’ democratic
leadership style does not predict team performance in the Kenyan national soccer leagues. Further,
based on the study discoveries, it was also established that perceptions of volleyball players on the
coaches training, rewarding behaviour and social support predict team performance in the Kenyan
national volleyball leagues. However, a perception of players on the coaches democratic does not
predict team performance in the Kenyan national volleyball leagues. From the findings, it was
concluded that coach education background, competition experience and perception of coach
competence by players play important role in the overall team performance of both soccer and
volleyball teams. That coach professional qualifications which did not seem to be significant in team
performance need to be reconfirmed through another scientific study. It was recommended that team
managers, owners and other stake holders in sports need to consider academic status of coaches
during recruitment. This was further confirmed by the findings on the perception of players on the
coach competence. On recommendation for policy implementation, federations are advised to
collaborate with the ministry and the institutions of higher learning to develop a holistic coach
education curriculum in Kenya.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Fulfilment for the Award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Education in the School of Public Health and Applied Human Sciences of Kenyatta University, August, 2022
Keywords
Coach Education, Competition, Players, Coach, Coach Competence, Kenyan National Leagues, National Leagues