This work compares the perceptions of two groups of athletes (novice and experienced athletes) about the leadership styles of their coaches, compatibility with the coach and satisfaction with leadership. The sample included 91 male athletes of a handball team; 59 were youth sport athletes (novice) and 32 were adult sport athletes (experienced). We applied the following measurements: Demographic Questionnaire, Multidimensional Scale of Leadership in Sports, Coach-Athlete Compatibility, and Athlete Satisfaction Questionnaire. The results showed that: novice athletes evaluated more positively the leadership styles, assumed more compatibility with the coach, and demonstrated more satisfaction with leadership. Therefore, leadership scales explained 32% of the variance related with Coach-Athlete Compatibility in novice athletes and 43% in experienced athletes.
Leadership; Satisfaction; Coach-athlete compatibility; Sports experience
