Examining of team leadership empatic, critical thinking abilities of football coaches and team captains according to various variables

In this study, it was aimed to examine the emphatic and critical thinking skills, and team leadership levels of football coaches and team captains according to various variables. The universe of this study consists of coaches who live in İzmir and registered at Izmir department of Turkey Football Coaches Association. The sample of the study consists of football coaches (n = 497) and captains of amateur football teams (n = 189) who live in the center and in various districts of Izmir Province. In this research, using descriptive screening model, personal information forms, Empathic Tendency Scale, California Critical Thinking Tendency Scale and Team Leadership Characteristics Scale were applied to the participants. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 program. Number, percentage, average and standard deviation were used as descriptive statistical methods in the evaluation of personal information about the participants. The t-test was used to compare quantitative continuous data between two independent groups, and the One way Anova test was used to compare quantitative continuous data between the two independent groups. Scheffe test was used as a complementary post-hoc analysis to determine the differences after the Anova test. Pearson Correlation Coefficient Analysis was performed to determine the relationship between the continuous variables of the research. Significance level was determined as p <0.05. In line with these findings, significant differences were found between the empathic tendency levels, critical thinking skills and team leadership levels of football coaches and team captains. Keywords: Sports, Football, Coach, Teamcaptain, Empathictendency, Criticalthinking, Leadership.