Abstract

The work was aimed to disclose causal conditions for effective interaction between elite athletes and their coaches. Method of grounded theory was applied; such method allows studying interactions and phenomena which occur under specific conditions of educational environment. Data was collected using half-structured interview method. The sample for this work was purposive and was made up of a group of nine coaches (eight males, one female). The coaches were selected due to the following achievements of their athletes: 1-24 places in Olympic Games, 1-18 places in World Championships, 1-12 places in European Championships, 1-8 places in World Youth Championships. The respondents were aged from 32 to 76 years. Strategy of grounding theory was employed to distinguish phenomena, causal conditions, context, action strategies and consequences which are characteristic for elite athlete-coach educational interaction. Limited volume of the article establishes analysis of categories, classified as targeted at context and causal conditions. Grounding theory of elite athlete-coach educational interaction, regarding from the coaches point of view, highlighted specific features of such interaction environment, in particular – high sport competition level among athletes in international area and low level of such competition in Lithuania; complex prognosis of sport results because of multidimensional aspect of phenomenon of Sport training process; plenty of coach’s performed functions which are not in direct relation with coach’s work; lack of appropriate training conditions and finances; pressure, which is felt by coach from society. The named contextual factors burden athlete-coach educational interaction. Data collected from the interview with the coaches showed that dominating factors which influence quality of coach-athlete interaction were athlete’s genetic potential (talent and gender), as well as personal characteristics; coach’s professional features – such as professional purposefulness, high professional qualification, communication habits and leading style were also pointed out. For effective interaction between elite athlete and coach important factors are reciprocal understanding and co-orientation. Strong motivation of an athlete, strive for common aims, mutual confidence based proximity, as well as coach-athlete mutual respect is the indicator of positive emotional connection and stability of relations. Verf.-Referat