Abstract
Calls have been made (Turnnidge & Côté, 2016) for research on athletes' positive development related to coach leadership behaviours defined by the Full Range Leadership Model (FRLM; Avolio, 2011). Studies assessing FRLM behaviours have taken a variable-centered approach and have focused almost exclusively on one FRLM leadership behaviour (i.e., transformational coaching), with no research examining how combinations of leadership behaviours influence development. According to the FRLM, optimal development occurs when coaches use high transformational, moderate transactional, and low laissez faire leadership behaviours (Avolio, 2011). This study explored the relationship between FRLM coaching profiles (i.e., different combinations of transformational, transactional, and laissez faire) and athletes' positive developmental outcomes and negative experiences in university sport. A total of 605 Canadian university student-athletes (237 male, 368 female, Mage = 20.09) completed the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (Avolio & Bass, 2004) and the University Sport Experience Survey (Rathwell & Young, 2016) to assess coaches' leadership behaviours and athletes' development, respectively. Coaching profiles were compared on effectiveness using analysis of variance tests. Consistent with the FRLM, when athletes' perceived their coaches used high transformational, moderate transactional, and low laissez faire behaviours, they reported the lowest levels of negative experiences. Contrary to expectations, athletes experienced the highest levels of positive development when coaches used high transformational, moderate transactional, and moderate laissez faire leadership. The results support the use of high levels of transformational and medium levels of transactional leadership, but suggest laissez-faire leadership may associate with certain developmental outcomes when paired with transformational leadership.Acknowledgments: SSHRC