The relationship between coaches' leadership styles, team cohesion and team success: the case of premier league soccer clubs in Ethiopia.

The present study aimed to examine the relationship between coaches' leadership styles and team cohesion in Ethiopian premier league soccer clubs. 180 players who participated in Ethiopian premier league soccer competition completed the demographic questionnaire, leadership scale for sport (LSS) and group environment questionnaire (GEQ). The LSS contained 40 items that measured five dimensions of leadership behaviors and the GEQ with 18 items assessed two dimensions of group cohesion. Results showed a significant positive relationship between coaches' behaviors of training and instruction, democratic behavior, and social support with group cohesion. There was no significant relationship between positive feedback and autocratic behaviors with group cohesion. Comparison of coaches' leadership styles demonstrated that coaches exhibited higher training and instruction and lower autocratic behavior. In addition, findings showed significant relationship between group cohesion and team success and the coaches of successful teams exhibited higher training and instruction behaviors. In summary, the effect of coaching behaviors on group cohesion and team success apparently demonstrated the importance of using the appropriate leadership styles.