Reciprocating Coach-Athlete Relationship Model (R-CARM): Trustworthiness for a Useful Tool

Abstract

Coach-athlete relationships are the fundamental fabric that
binds a team together, impacts performance and athlete
behavior in order to succeed in the competitive environment.
Numerous authors suggest that an effective coachathlete
relationship is necessary for a successful outcome
(Lafrenière, Jowett, Vallerand, & Carbonneau, 2011 Shields,
Gardner, Bredemeier, & Bostro, 1997) and it is conceivable
that the key to a successful coach-athlete relationship
is the development of human relationships by the coaches
(Jowett & Cockerill, 2003; Philippe et al., 2011). Therefore
“the most important encounter (in sport) may be the
one between the athlete and their coach” (Ayer, 2015, p.
28). This relationship is dynamically unique and complex,
it can vary in both depth and quality, and is one that simultaneously
influences and is influenced by a number of
variables and contexts (Ayer, 2015; Allen & Eby, 2012;
Jowett & Poczwardowski, 2007). Broadly the coach-athlete
relationship is defined as a situation in which two individual’s
(coach and athlete) feelings, thoughts, and behaviors
are mutually and causally interdependent (Jowett & Meek,
2000).Research has shown that the athletes’ perceptions of
their coaches’ behaviors have an impact on academics, performance,
actions, leadership, morals, and beliefs (Horn,
Bloom, Berglund, & Packard, 2011; Jowett & Cockerill,
2003;); plausibly, athletes can be manipulated by the coachathlete
relationship (Felton & Jowett, 2013; Philippe, Sagar,
Huguet, Paquet, & Jowett, 2011).