Construction and Validation of the Athletic Coaching Touch Utility Index
File(s)
Date
2008-05Author
Miller, Michael J.
Publisher
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, College of Fine Arts and Communication
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This thesis involved the construction and testing of an index used to examine
observers’ interpretations of how touch enacted by coaches affects athletes in a
competitive sporting context. The results offered statistical support for the Revised
Athletic Coaching Touch Utility Index (ACTUIR)
to be comprised of five components
measuring the degree that observers interpret coaching touch to incite athlete’s feelings of
appreciation, comfort, sexual arousal, skill building, and trust/respect. The findings also
suggested that coach-enacted
touch influences the emotional and relational messages
exchanged between coaches and athletes. That is, gender along with the type of touch
statistically impacted how observers perceived the messages conveyed from coaches to
athletes after watching web videos of coaches touching athletes before competitions.
Moreover, the ACTUIR
showed promise as an instrument to examine coaching touch in
a sporting context.