The bases and functions of coaches' social power

The purpose of this study was to make clear the bases and functions of coaches' social power. Three hunderd and eighty-nine players, belonging in highschool sport clubs, were administered two questionaires; one was to measure the bases of the power their coaches had, the other was to measure players' estimation of influences from coaches and their adaptability to sport activities in the clubs. From the result of factor analysis, six bases of the power were extracted as the factors; expertise-referability, apprehension to punishment, expectation of benefit, enthusiasm of coaches, legitimacy, and affiliation to and acceptance from coaches. Then, the power of coaches were differentiated into six types in terms of the bases. The functions of each type of power were examined by means of multiple regression analysis. It was found that coaches' personal power which included expert-reference, benefit, enthusiasm and affiliation-acceptance power had mainly contributed to coaches' influence. Especially, benefit and enthusiasm power had been playing crucial roles in coaching. On the other hand, punishment and legitimate power, so-called position power, were found not to have significant positive effects. It was speculated that influences based on punishment power could not be accepted privately, and would have negative effects on players' adaptation to activities, and that legitimate power was in existence on personal power