The Coach-Athlete Relationship and NCAA Student-Athlete Satisfaction

Abstract

The quality of the coach-athlete relationship has a profound impact on athletes' experiences in sport. Although this topic has received increasing attention worldwide, few studies have investigated this phenomenon among NCAA student-athletes. The purpose of this non-experimental study was to determine if NCAA student-athlete perceptions of coach-athlete relationship quality had a predictive relationship with their ratings of athlete satisfaction. 387 NCAA student-athletes completed measures of coach-athlete relationship quality and athlete satisfaction. Respondents indicated generally positive perceptions of their relationship with their coach and reported moderately high satisfaction levels. The coach-athlete relationship was linked with athlete satisfaction, and regression analyses indicated that the quality of the relationship significantly predicted ratings of athlete satisfaction. Notable differences between sport types and competition levels provided evidence for context-driven approaches to enhancing the coach-athlete relationship. Results suggest that sports coaches, the NCAA, and coach education outlets may be able to enhance their athletes’ sporting experiences by engaging in professional development aimed at fostering healthy relationship skills.