The link between emotional intelligence and leadership in soccer coaches

Social competences like emotional intelligence are essential for coaches’ leadership behavior (Laborde, Dosseville & Allen, 2015). The present study examines the extent to which the emotional intelligence of soccer coaches is systematically associated with different components of leadership, for example social support or democratic behavior. The sample of 198 soccer coaches from lower leagues up to the first Bundesliga (all male, mean age = 39.41 years) completed an online questionnaire comprising the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue; Freudenthaler et al., 2008) and the Leadership Scale for Sports (LSS; Würth, Saborowski & Alfermann, 1999). Analyses show positive correlations between the LSS score (operationalized as social support, positive feedback, democratic or autocratic behavior) and the TEIQue global score (comprising well-being, emotionality, self-control and social competence; r= .382, p< .001). The democratic behavior of coaches was positively linked to their age (r= .166, p= .021) and coaching experience (r= .174, p=.015). Age was also associated with self-control (r=.192, p<.001) and global LSS score (r=.149, p=.038). The results show an empirical relationship between trait emotional intelligence and the way soccer coaches describe their leadership styles. Practical implications for coach education and coach the coach are discussed. Freudenthaler, H. H., Neubauer, A. C., Gabler, P., Scherl, W. G., & Rindermann, H. (2008). Testing and validating the trait emotional intelligence questionnaire (TEIQue) in a German-speaking sample. Personality and Individual Differences, 45, 673-678. Laborde, S., Dosseville, F., & Allen, M. S. (2015). Emotional intelligence in sport and exercise: A systematic review. Scand J Med Sci Sports. doi:10.1111/sms.12510Würth, S., Saborowski, C., & Alfermann, D. (1999). Trainingsklima und Führungsverhalten aus der Sicht jugendlicher Athleten und deren Trainer. Psychologie und Sport, 6(4), 146-157.