The self-fulfilling prophecy in college basketball: Implications for effective coaching

Eight Division I college basketball coaches and 23 players participated in a study which examined the relationship between the self-fulfilling prophecy and effective coaching. Among the variables analyzed were feedback given by coaches, including differences between high and low expectancy players, and player perceptions of feedback. The Coaching Behavior Assessment System (CBAS) and Cole's Descriptive Analysis System (Cole-DAS) were utilized to record coaching behaviors during basketball practices. Results indicated that head coaches offered more mistake-related feedback while assistant coaches offered more reinforcement and encouragement. Head coaches provided more of all types of feedback to high expectancy athletes. Results from a 28-item questionnaire indicated that high expectancy athletes generally perceived their coaches more positively than did low expectancy athletes. Overall, the findings suggest that college coaching routines may not parallel effective coaching techniques as defined by the self-fulfilling prophecy.