Power Play: Coach Power Use and Athletes' Communicative Evaluations and Responses

Coaches, like instructors, must possess and use power effectively. Although power is important for coaching, research on the influence of coaches' power use remains understudied. This study examined 91 current Division I athletes' reports of coach power use and their subsequent communicative evaluations and responses. Results indicated that linear combinations of coach power use predicted athletes' perceptions of communication symmetry, orientations toward coach feedback, and communication satisfaction—after accounting for sport-related variables. Results support the use of prosocial power and the avoidance of antisocial power bases as effective, while recognizing the uniqueness of sport as an educational context.