Communication problems in professional sports: the case of Greece
Corporate Communications: An International Journal
ISSN: 1356-3289
Article publication date: 1 September 2005
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research was to explore the communication barriers among coaches and players in professional sports, define the basic communication principles, and suggest methods of improving the communication process.
Design/methodology/approach
The sample included 24 professional coaches from four different professional team sports in Greece. All subjects were male. The research instrument was developed from a relevant review of literature that focused on main problems in communication inside small groups. There was one set – lists of five variables regarding the problems in communication (limited time, language, etc.). Coaches were asked to indicate the main communication problem.
Findings
The results of this research showed that the most important communication problems between coaches and players in professional sports are: the external factors, the limited time, the language, the ability of perception and the negative attitude. From the above‐mentioned communicational problems, the coaches considered the external factors (41.67 per cent) as the most important, especially when their teams are playing away. The factor of negative attitude was considered as a main problem only by one coach (4.16 per cent).
Practical implications
Communication is one of the most important functions of management. Coaches of amateur and professional teams should know how to communicate successfully with players in order to maximize individual and team performance. That is why it is important for the coaches to know how to overcome the problems that occur during the communication process with the players.
Originality/value
Even most of the coaches are realizing the importance of effective communication; this research points out the main communication problems between coaches and players and suggests methods of improving the communication process.
Keywords
Citation
Athanasios, L. (2005), "Communication problems in professional sports: the case of Greece", Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. 10 No. 3, pp. 252-256. https://doi.org/10.1108/13563280510614500
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2005, Emerald Group Publishing Limited