The Coach's Leadership Style Towards Athlete Satisfaction in The Malaysian School Sports Council (MSSM), Kuala Lumpur

Abstract

Coaches in schools are not just sports technique instructors but also leaders and directors of athletes' individual development. Leadership styles that foster positive relationships and emotional support with athletes can create a conducive atmosphere for their psychological development. A study was conducted to explore the correlation between coaching styles and athlete satisfaction within the Malaysian School Sports Council, located in Kuala Lumpur. Utilizing simple random sampling, a total of 223 athletes, representing Kuala Lumpur in the national-level championship, were selected. The research employed the Athlete Satisfaction Questionnaire (ASQ) as its primary instrument. This quantitative study utilized a survey methodology to investigate the predetermined research hypotheses. Both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were employed to assess the null hypotheses at a significance level of p < 0.05. SPSS version 29 served as the tool for data analysis. The study findings indicated the rejection of the null hypothesis, which posited no significant relationship between coaching styles and athlete performance. The need for effective leadership styles in athlete development is crucial in the context of school sports. Leadership styles that understand the needs and aspirations of athletes, provide continuous support, and offer clear guidance can create a positive training environment and drive performance to greater heights. Therefore, coaches need to understand the implications of these correlation results to shape more effective leadership styles. Therefore, this study can be expanded in scope to examine the long-term impact of character development on athlete success after completing schooling. Researching these long-term changes can provide insights into how values and character building during their time in the Malaysian School Sports Council (MSSM), Kuala Lumpur, influence the development and performance of athletes at higher levels in their sports after leaving school.