Bortoli, L., Robazza, C., & Giabardo, S. (1995). Young athletes' perception of coaches' behavior. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 81, 1217-1218.

Two forms of a questionnaire, one assessing the athlete's coach, the other assessing the athlete's "ideal" coach, were administered to individual and sport team members of both genders aged 10 to 17 years (N = 240). Each coach was evaluated by a minimum of five athletes.

Generally, Ss would have liked to have a better coach than the one to which they were exposed. Younger athletes and athletes of team sports gave better evaluations of their real coach than older and individual-sport athletes did.

Implication. Teenage athletes generally wish for a better coach. An emphasis on improving coaching to generate a more positive coach-athlete relationship is warranted.

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