Abstract
The expectancy cycle in sports exists when coaches create initial judgments of athlete ability, which subsequently influence the performance of athletes. The two main purposes of this study was to investigate the degree of perceptual flexibility of college coaches in assessing athlete ability, and identify specific expectancy factors that are prioritized in creating expectations. Perceptual flexibility refers to a coach who perceives athlete ability differently over time. This-study also analyzed the level of perceptual flexibility exhibited by college head and assistant coaches. Participants in this study consisted of 10 head and six assistant coaches from NCAA Division I tennis and basketball programs throughout the United States. The results from this study indicate that coaches remained stable in their perceptions of athlete ability over the course of a season. There was no significant difference between head and assistant coaches in their level of perceptual flexibility. In addition, there was no significant difference in coaches high or low in degree of perceptual flexibility and the expectancy sources used to judge athlete ability. Lastly, there was no significant difference in the expectancy sources used
to create initial expectations of athletes between head and assistant coaches. Coaches should be aware of how their behavior affects athlete performance, and be able to establish realistic goals to help in athlete development. Future research directions may explore these findings by analyzing other types of sports at various levels of competition. Understanding the dynamic between the coach-athlete relationship will help future and current coaches develop athletes effectively; thus, positively influencing athlete performance during competition.