21st Century Coach Leadership Style towards Football Players’ Motivation in Malaysian Sports Schools

Abstract

Malaysia has taken a rigorous approach to improving the quality and performance of its football teams. To match the strength of world-class football teams, the nation has taken a strategic approach by developing players’ potential through the grassroots level. These players are brought together in sports schools across the country and trained by experienced coaches to showcase their talents, potentials, skills, and performance. Therefore, this study identifies the relationship between coach leadership style and the motivation of football players in sports schools. Furthermore, the study explores the dimensions of coach leadership style that have a high impact on improving player motivation. In this regard, a total of 313 footballers participating in the under-14 football tournament organized by the ministry of education and the national football development programme (NFDP) from sports schools across Malaysia surveyed as respondents. The findings show that there is a moderate positive relationship between coach leadership style and football players’ motivation. Dimensions such as democratic and social consideration have a significant impact on increasing football players’ motivation in sports schools. In conclusion, the football coach is the most crucial person in ensuring the motivation of football players at a high level. They have to use all of their existing skills to build a strong, motivated team and never tire of it when facing tough moments in the game.