Antecedents and consequences of athlete's trust in the coach

PurposeTo assess the effects of trust in the coach on commitment to coach, willingness to cooperate, and perceived performance.MethodsTwo hundred and fifteen members of competitive sports clubs responded to scales measuring coach characteristics of justice, benevolence, integrity, and competence; athlete's trust in the coach; commitment to coach; willingness to cooperate; and perceived performance.ResultsConfirmatory factor analysis of data supported the measurement model. Perceptions of a coach's justice (β = 0.19, p < 0.05), benevolence (β = 0.32, p < 0.05), integrity (β = 0.14, p < 0.05), and competence (β = 0.29, p < 0.05) each had a significant effect on athletes' trust, and they cumulatively accounted for 61% of the variance in trust. The structural equation modeling showed that trust had direct effects on commitment to coach (β = 0.77, p < 0.01), willingness to cooperate (β = 0.79, p < 0.01), and perceived performance (β = 0.51, p < 0.01). The hypothesized mediating effects of commitment to coach and willingness to cooperate were not supported. The model explained 26% of the variance in perceived performance.ConclusionAs trust in coach influences commitment to coach, willingness to cooperate, and perceived performance, coaches need to take effort to bolster their athletes' trust by being just and benevolent, and enhancing their integrity and competence.