In the context of extending the knowledge of coaching in sports in Malaysia
particularly in Sarawak, this study aimed to identify the perception of
student athlete regarding to the coaching behavior, in addition to investigate
the preferred coaching behavior as well as perceived coaching behavior by
the student athlete of track and field sports from Sarawak state. This is a
descriptive study that using equal-size groups in stratified sampling
method. The study consisted of 252 respondents (male, n = 126; female, n =
126), who were secondary school student athletes aged between 13 to 18
years old and had represented their division for competition. Questionnaires
Leadership Scale for Sport (LSS) developed by Chelladurai and Saleh
(1980) was adapted and used as instrument for our research to measure five
coaching behaviors. Based on the Sarawak state sport track and field student
athletes perception on the coaching behavior, findings indicated that the
preferred behavior by student athletes matched with the perceived coaching
behavior of the coach. Study data demonstrated that Instruction and
Training behavior (M = 4.33, SP = 0.67) as the most preferred ranking,
followed by Positive Feedback behavior (M = 4.14, SP = 0.74). The
findings of student athletes' perceptions to perceived coaching behavior that
often existing on the coach is also Instruction and Training behavior (M =
4.13, SD = 0.68), followed by Positive Feedback behavior (M = 3.89, SD =
0.75). As the conclusion, perceptions of student athletes were not differed
by gender, with both boys and girls indicated alike thoughts in their
preferred coaching behavior as well as perceived coaching behavior, which
was Instruction and Training behavior.