An Investigation of the Relationship of Coach’s Use of Humor and Subsequent Player Evaluation

Abstract

This study examined the effects of coaches’ use of humor on player evaluations. A questionnaire was administered to 97 high school wrestlers. Subjects were asked to indicate their perceptions of their coaches’ use of humor, coaching abilities, and the degree to which they liked their coach. Respondents indicated their coaches had a sense of humor (M= 1.50), that they liked their coach (M= 1.52), and had appropriate abilities for coaching wrestling. Further analysis indicated weak relationships between the athletes’ perception of coaches’ use of humor and coaching ability (r = .131) and between the coaches’ use of humor and the degree to which athletes liked the coaches (r = .217). A moderate relationship (r = .561) existed between athletes liking the coach and perceived coaching ability. This study suggests use of humor by wrestling coaches does not improve athlete perceptions of coaching ability or liking of the coach. However, there was a statistically significant relationship between athletes’ liking of the coach and perceived coaching ability.