Unveiling the Enigma: Effective Communication in Coach-Athlete Interaction

Bryan   L. Cancio,; Romeo  Sanchez,; Orlando  Pajo,; Annieza  Gelbolingo,; Dan Clark  Eusalan,; Glenn  Lagare,; Gonzalo  Inojales,; Juanito Paulo  Deita,; Julius  Sabangan,

Unveiling the Enigma: Effective Communication in Coach-Athlete Interaction

Discipline: Education

Abstract:

Effective communication can be defined as the ability to convey information, ideas, thoughts, or feelings clearly and accurately to others in a way that is understood and comprehended. The purpose of this study is to qualitatively explore situations in which athletes perceived communication with their coach to be essential and determine the effect of this communication on the athletes. A phenomenological study investigated athletes' experiences in a private institution. Furthermore, this study is anchored on the theory of Transactional Communication by Barnlund (1970), which seeks to describe communication as a process in which communicators generate social realities within social, relational, and cultural contexts. This theory views communication as a dynamic process where meaning is co-created between individuals. The study involved five (5) in-depth interviews with student-athletes in a private medical institution renowned for their excellence in education. The study employed thematic analysis to derive meaning from the lived experiences of the student-athletes. In education, this perspective emphasizes the importance of effective communication between teachers and students to facilitate learning. In this study, the researcher utilized an interview guide with self-made questions. The researcher used thematic analysis to interpret the data. Two major themes emerged as challenges: Encouraging positive behavior and experiencing psychological crises among athletes.

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