Effect of Coaching Behaviors on Team Cohesion and Performance in Iranian Women’s Premier Soccer League

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of coaching behaviors on team cohesion and performance of Iranian Women’s Football League players in 1394-1395 (Persian calendar).The research method is descriptive correlational and data collection method is a field method. Statistical population with statistical sample included 176 soccer players in the form of 8 teams. To collect data, Martin & Barnes Coaching Behavior Questionnaire (1999) and Carron et al. Team Cohesion Questionnaire (1985) were used. To measuring performance of women’s football teams, their rank in the table was used as criterion. Instruments reliability was obtained using Cronbach's alpha test (coaching behavior: 0.75, cohesion: 0.83). Research tool validity was confirmed using expert ideas and confirmatory factor analysis in AMOS software. Descriptive statistics (Central tendency, dispersion) and inferential statistics (Structural Equation Modeling-AMOS software) were used for data analysis. The results showed that positive reactive coaching behaviors had significant effect on coherence and team performance; normal coaching behavior had a significant effect on cohesion and no significant effect on team performance and negative reactive coaching behavior had positive significant effect on the team performance and negative significant impact on cohesion. Overall, it is recommended that authorities of the clubs and teams use communicative model of coaching behavior on team cohesion and performance.