Nils Petter Aspvik1, Ingar Mehus1, Stig Arve Sæther1, Anne Tjønndal2
1Dept. of Sociology and Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
2Faculty of Social Sciences, Nord University
Using the Multidimensional Model of Leadership in Sport (MML) as the theoretical point of departure, the present study has two aims: 1) To map which leadership styles are the most prevalent among Norwegian football coaches, and 2) to understand how coach and athlete characteristics determine the use of instructional leadership and positive feedback. Questionnaires from 339 Norwegian football coaches, recruited from the Norwegian football coach association, were included in the analysis. Leadership styles were measured utilizing the Leadership Scale for Sports (LSS). To analyze the data two linear regression analyses were conducted. Results reveal that Norwegian football coaches are more oriented towards instructional leadership and positive feedback. Moreover, instructional leadership is found to be influenced by both coach and athlete characteristics, while positive feedback is influenced only by the coach characteristics. Interaction effects within both linear regressions revealed that the use of instructional and positive feedback develop leadership differently with age for female and male football players. The youngest girls receive more instructional leadership and positive feedback, compared with the youngest boys, whereas older girls receive less instructional leadership and positive feedback compared with the boys. This study supports the idea that the education of coaches should put greater emphasis on the use of instructional leadership and positive feedback leadership.
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NILS PETTER ASPVIK is a PhD Research Fellow at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology Management at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway. The subject of his PhD thesis is physical activity and health among older adults. In 2007 Aspvik graduated from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) with a master’s degree (MSc.) in Sport Science.
INGAR MEHUS is Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology and Political Science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). His primary research interests are in the field of motivational theory, academic achievement, obesity and measuring physical activity.
STIG ARVE SÆTHER is Assistant Professor in Sports Science at the Department of Sociology and Political Science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). His research interests include talent development, youth sport and physical activity. In 2004 Stig Arve graduated from NTNU with a master’s degree (MSc.) in Sport Science.
ANNE TJØNNDAL is a PhD Research Fellow at the Faculty of Social Science at Nord University, Bodø, Norway. The subject of her PhD thesis is innovation and social inclusion in sport. In 2014 Anne graduated from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) with a master’s degree (MSc.) in Sport Science.
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