A study to determine whether there is a difference between high school head coaches' and non-administrative athletic directors' perception of the role and function of non-administrative athletic directors

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a difference between high school head coaches’ and non-administrative athletic directors’ perception of the role and function of non-administrative athletic directors. The subjects for this study were all employed by one of the 38 rural public school districts in Western Wisconsin. Each subject either held the position of head coach or non-administrative athletic director. All 38 athletic directors and 200 of the 500 head coaches in Western Wisconsin were randomly selected to participate in this study. All subjects were provided with a written overview of the study, which described what their involvement would entail. Their participation was entirely voluntary and all subjects remain anonymous. The instrumentation for this study consisted of a questionnaire with ten items. Subjects were asked to rate each answer on a scale from one to five (Likert Scale). The questionnaire was developed specifically for this study to survey head coaches and non-administrative athletic directors in areas that they commonly work collaboratively in. Data was collected during the spring semester of the 1999-2000 school year and analyzed to test the null hypothesis: There will be no difference in the perception of the role and function of non-administrative athletic directors between head coaches and non-administrative athletic directors. A statistical analysis was conducted on the mean scores for each item on the questionnaire between the two groups. The data was compiled using a t-test for independent samples. To determine significance, the probability level was set at the .05 level for each item. Four of the ten items analyzed supported the null hypothesis: There will be no difference in the perception of the role and function of non-administrative athletic directors between head coaches and non-administrative athletic directors. The items were as follows: 1. Selecting of assistant and lower level coaches 2. Selection of score keeper, statisticians, and other workers 3. Preparation of programs for home contests 4. Sending of roster information to opponents for away contests Six of the ten items analyzed did not support the null hypothesis, but the alternative hypothesis: There will be a difference in the perception of the role and function of non-administrative athletic directors between head coaches’ and non-administrative athletic directors’. 1. Selecting of officials for all non-conference varsity contests 2. Selecting of officials for all non-varsity contests 3. Acting as first line in the chain of command for parental complaints 4. Scheduling of all non-conference varsity opponents 5. Scheduling of all non-varsity opponents/contests 6. The direction of specific athletic programs (K-12) The results speak to the perception problem that exists on many issues between non-administrative athletic directors and head coaches. This study benefits head coaches and non-administrative athletic directors by helping each to better understand their role in running the athletic programs at their respective schools