EXAMINING GENDER DIFFERENCES IN SOURCES AND LEVELS OF PERCEIVED COMPETENCE IN INTERSCHOLASTIC COACHES

This study aimed to examine gender differences in sources of competenc e information and the resultant perceptions of competence among male a nd female interscholastic coaches. Participants (102 female and 138 ma le coaches of girls' sports) completed self-report measures that asses sed preferences for sources of coaching competence information, percep tions of general and specific coaching competence, and potential reaso ns for withdrawal from coaching. Multivariate analyses revealed signif icant gender differences among sources of competence information, with women showing greater preference for athletes' improvement and for im provement of their own coaching skills. Gender differences between coa ching competence perceptions were also found. Males and females were s imilar in most self-perceptions, but women perceived themselves to be more competent at teaching sport skills. Contrary to theoretical predi ctions, canonical correlations between sources and perceptions of comp etence did not indicate a strong Link between these two constructs for male or female coaches.