The relationship between leadership perception and motivation: A study on generation Z in sports

It's a fact that there are many factors affecting the achievements of athletes. One of theses factors is the motivation. Motivating athletes in the right way leads to an increase in performance. Another fact that the behaviors of the coaches who walk with the athletes on this path throughout their sports life can positively or negatively affect athlete motivation. In the light of this information, the main purpose of the study is to determine the effect of leadership behaviors of coaches on athletes' motivation. For this purpose, four leadership types (transactional leadership, coaching, transformational leadership, paternalistic leadership) have been determined. The data have been collected from Aydın, Denizli, Muğla, which have been determined as TR32 in Turkey's statistical regional ranking. A total of 421 questionnaire data have been evaluated. Factor analysis, correlation and regression analyses have been used in the evaluation of the data. According to the results, there has been a positive relationship between transactional leadership and amotivation, and a positive relationship between paternalistic and transformational leadership and motivation. As a result, the characteristics that the coaches who will work with Generation Z should have in order to contribute positively to athlete motivation are; being open to change, having compassion, being able to spend time with athletes outside of sports activities, being sincere in their feelings and actions, accepting each athlete as special and directing them for their development in the right way, being development-oriented rather than winning-oriented, being patient, being open to communication, respecting athletes, providing social support to athletes, and empathy.