The Impact of Coaches' Behavior on African American Female Athletes' Playing Satisfaction: A Cursory Review of the Literature

Although researchers have examined the relationship between coaches' behaviors and athlete satisfaction, the findings have not been conclusive concerning the behaviors that coaches should adopt to maximize player satisfaction with playing the sport. Coaches' behaviors have a significant influence on the satisfaction of Black athletes who participate on collegial sports teams. The research examining coaches' behaviors has established that positive or supportive behaviors as well as frequency of task correction increase motivation and satisfaction, while negative or critical behaviors decrease motivation. Negative coaches' behaviors are associated with burnout and depression among athletes. Research suggests that females are more intrinsically motivated than males and respond more favorably to positive coaching behaviors. Lack of research investigating the relationship between coaches' behaviors and satisfaction among Black female athletes indicates the need for future research in this area.