Abstract
Expectancy effects in sport demonstrate ability to influence coach behavior subsequently affecting athlete performance. Coaches form initial expectancies of athlete ability from a variety of internal and external sources. Expectations influence quality and quantity of feedback. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to assess the stability of coach expectations of athlete ability over the course of one competitive season. Furthermore, preferred expectancy sources compared to coaches' perceptual flexibility level and sport type (individual, team) were determined. Sixteen NCAA . Division I basketball and tennis coaches participated in the study. Results demonstrated that both individual (tennis) and team (basketball) sport coaches' perceptions of athlete ability were stable over one competitive season. There were no significant differences in expectancy source preference based on sport type or perceptual flexibility level. However, in depth analyses revealed specific items from the SESS to differ based on sport type. Team sport coaches rated Confidence and High Aspirations significantly higher than individual sport coaches. The dynamics of team and individual sports differ. Coach evaluation of athlete ability appears to vary with sport type. More research is needed to explore evaluation criteria differences. Furthermore, a multi-year or longitudinal research of perceptual flexibility in sport is warranted to further understand this coaching tendency.