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Coaching Style and Athlete Performance: The Mediating Roles of Coach–Athlete Relationship, Motivation, and Training Load–Recovery Management

Wang Y, He K, Li Y, Shi L. · Research Square · 2026

Researchers surveyed 483 athletes, coaches and trainers at five Chinese sports universities to test whether coaching style affects athlete performance directly or through the coach raining and training load/recovery management. Coaching style significantly predicted athlete performance (\u03b2 = 0.448), though the abstract is cut off before the mediation results are reported.
Takeaway: Choose a coach whose style builds a strong working relationship, since coaching approach appears linked to performance.
Abstract (source)

Abstract Coaches play a key role in shaping athlete performance, yet the mechanisms linking coaching style to performance remain underexplored. It is unclear whether this relationship is direct or operates indirectly through psychological and relational processes such as the coach–athlete relationship, athlete motivation, and training load management. Grounded in the coach–athlete relationship framework and self-determination theory. Data were collected from 483 participants, including athletes, coaches, and trainers, across five sports universities in China between February 2024 and January 2025. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (SmartPLS 4), supported by SPSS for reliability and descriptive analysis, was employed.

Results: show that coaching style significantly predicts athlete performance (β = 0.448, p

Primary studyProgramming & Periodization
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