Abstract
Certified and competitive coaches encourage imagery more than uncertified and recreational coaches (Hall et al., 2007; Jedlic et al., 2007). This study examined whether sport type and gender of both coaches and athletes also influence coaches' encouragement of imagery. Competitive athletes (n = 44 male, 45 female) from interactive (n = 57) and independent sports (n = 32) completed the Coaches' Encouragement of Athletes' Imagery Use Questionnaire (Jedlic et al.) and the enjoyment/improvement subscale of the Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire-2 (Newton et al., 2000). Data were analyzed using one-way MANOVAs. No sport type differences emerged for coaches' encouragement of imagery or motivational climate (p > .05). Female athletes felt coaches provided greater encouragement of imagery outside practice, before bed, and for CG and MG-M functions (p < .05). Overall, athletes felt female coaches provided more encouragement of imagery outside practice, before and during competition, and for the MG-M function (p < .05). Athletes whose coach taught psychological skills scored higher on effort/improvement and all CEAIUQ subscales (p < .05). While female athletes were not more likely to have a coach that taught psychological skills, a greater proportion of females reported that imagery was one of the skills taught by their coach. The findings suggest there may be a gender bias in athlete and coach perceptions of imagery and how it is encouraged among competitive athletes.
