The coach's leadership style and its relationship to the motivational traits of first-division volleyball players in Algiers

Abstract

The development witnessed in sports in general, and volleyball in particular, is primarily due to the improvement in sports training programs and methodologies. These have become based on scientific principles and well-studied methodological rules aimed at improving performance through the physical, mental, and emotional preparation of the athlete. Given that the progress in the last ten years in both the theoretical and applied aspects of sports training is an inevitable result of advancements in many related sciences, it has become essential for coaches to possess a broad understanding of these developments and to be able to grasp the many problems and issues common to both these sciences and sports training. Here, Ted (1965) points out that an effective leader is one who takes on the responsibility of managing the work and guiding the team to achieve the set goals. Motivational traits represent a crucial aspect of personality in the psychological preparation of athletes, especially volleyball players. They serve as the driving force for engaging in activity and striving for excellence and distinction, as well as being an indicator of the level of ambition among volleyball players. These traits are influenced by the coach's leadership behavior, especially since the coach is largely responsible for creating a positive atmosphere among team members through their leadership conduct. However, we observed that studies addressing coach leadership behavior, as well as studies on motivational traits, have been scarce, if not entirely absent, in physical education and sports colleges and institutes in Algeria. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the leadership behavior of first-division volleyball coaches from the players' perspective, as well as the dominant motivational traits among volleyball players at the same level, and to determine the relationship between them.