Communication skills of handball coaches

The purpose of this study was to assess communication skills of handball coaches. Toward this purpose, a Likert scale was administered to a sample Men and Women team coaches their managers and their players in the Turkey Handball Super League, 2008-2009. Measures of central tendency, including the mean, frequency and percentiles were used in assessing of data.Demographic profile such as, age, gender, education level, duration of coaching, period of coaching career, period of coaching career in super league, income, coach?s sports background were also determined.Feedback skills showed lowest points (X=3,25), communicating with others showed highest points (X=3,97) in assessment of coaches? communication skills subscale.Communicating with others showed the highest points (X=3,97) and feedback skills showed the lowest points (X=3,25) in whole assessment of coaches? communication skills scale. The mean of coaches? communication skills was X=3,50.There were a difference in five subscales in the assessment of coaches? communication skills between coaches and players. Coaches showed more positive attitudes towards their skills than players? points towards their coaches? communication skills. Results in three groups showed that verbal communication and feedback skills assessment were the lowest points.According to research results, coaches? communication skills are ordinary based on players assessment whereas coaches and managers assessed coaches? communication skills as effective, however open for improvement. It can be suggested that coaches should be more sensitive and improve their skills in listening and dealing with players? problems. It can be said that firstly coaches need to improve their skills in providing feedback and listening the players and secondly, they need to improve their verbal communication skills.Research results are interpreted according to the literature and recommendations are provided.Key words: Communication skills, handball, trainer.