Coaching Behavior Preferences among College Athletes in Lahore District

Abstract

The effectiveness of sports coaching extends beyond technical instruction to encompass interpersonal, psychological, and leadership behaviors that influence athletes' motivation, satisfaction, and performance. Despite the growing international literature on coach–athlete relationships, empirical evidence regarding athletes' preferred coaching behaviors remains scarce in Pakistan, particularly at the college level. This study investigated the coaching behavior preferences of college athletes in Lahore District, Pakistan, with special emphasis on identifying the relative importance of different coaching behavior dimensions and examining gender-based differences. A quantitative cross-sectional research design was employed using the Coaching Behavior Scale for Sports (CBS-S). Data were collected from male and female college athletes enrolled in government and private colleges through a structured self-report questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to identify preferred coaching behaviors, while independent-samples t-tests examined differences between male and female athletes. The findings revealed that athletes generally favored coaching behaviors characterized by effective physical training, technical skill development, goal setting, mental preparation, competition strategies, and positive personal rapport, whereas negative personal rapport was the least preferred coaching behavior. Although male and female athletes shared several coaching preferences, statistically significant differences emerged across selected behavioral dimensions. The findings underscore the importance of adopting athlete-centered coaching approaches that balance technical competence with supportive interpersonal relationships. The study contributes to the limited body of literature on coaching behavior in Pakistan and provides evidence-based recommendations for coach education, higher education sports administration, and national sports policy. Future studies should extend this line of inquiry by incorporating athletes from different competitive levels, sports disciplines, and geographical regions to develop a comprehensive understanding of coaching effectiveness in Pakistan.

Keywords: Coaching behavior, college athletes, coach-athlete relationship, sports coaching, athlete preferences, Pakistan, gender differences