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A coach's behavior has the potential to impact several athlete and team outcomes. The Multidimensional Model of Leadership (MAIL; Chelladurai, 1978; 1990) proposes that leader behavior can influence group performance and member satisfaction. More specifically, the MAIL proposes that if athletes perceive their coach is providing the leadership behavior they prefer and that is required by the situation, outcomes such as group performance and member satisfaction are maximized Following the lead of Riemer and Toon (2001), the present study used hierarchical regression to analyze the leadership behavior congruency hypothesis. The results indicated that the congruency of two particular leadership behaviors, training and instruction and autocratic behavior, play a role in the determination of athlete satisfaction among collegiate tennis players. Consequently, these results indicate that some, but not all, facets of leadership behavior have an impact on satisfaction when the coach's leadership behavior as perceived by the athlete is similar to the behavior preferred by the athlete., Most research on coaching effectiveness has assumed that coaches greatly influence athletes' performance and behavior, as well as their general psychological and emotional well-being (Chelladurai, 1990; 1993). The study of [...]

The purpose of this preliminary study was to show the feasibility of electro-stimulation (ES) strength exercise incorporated into tennis sessions during the preparatory season of competitive players, and its impact on anaerobic performance. Twelve tennis players (5 men, 7 women) completed 9 sessions of quadriceps ES (duration: 16 minutes; frequency: 85 Hz; on-off ratio: 5.25-25 seconds) during 3 weeks. The ES sessions were integrated into tennis training sessions. Subjects were baseline tested and retested 1 (week 4), 2 (week 5), 3 (week 6), and 4 weeks (week 7) after the ES training program for maximal quadriceps strength, vertical jump height, and shuttle sprint time. Participants were able to progressively increase ES current amplitude and evoked force throughout the 9 training sessions, with an optimal treatment compliance of 100%. Maximal quadriceps strength significantly increased during the entire duration of the experiment (p < 0.001). Countermovement jump height at week 5 (+5.3%) and week 6 (+6.4%) was significantly higher than at baseline (p < 0.05). In addition, 2 x 10-m sprint time at week 6 was significantly shorter (-3.3%; p = 0.004) compared with pretraining. The 3-week ES strength training program was successfully incorporated into preseason tennis training with a linear progression in all training parameters. Throughout the study period, a delayed enhancement of anaerobic power and stretch-shortening cycle performance was observed. Progressive ES strength training may be safely included in the early tennis season and can lead to improvements in the anaerobic performance of men and women players. KEY WORDS quadriceps, vertical jump, sprint, stretch-shortening cycle

Reaction time, first-step quickness, lateral (side steps), and forward speed over short distances are important parameters for tennis performance. The aims of this study were: (i) to diagnose the presence of laterality in tennis lateral movements and (ii) to compare the effects of plyometric training (PT), tennis-specific drills training (TDT), and combined training (CT) on performance in tennis-specific movements and power/strength of lower limbs. Sixty-four novice tennis players (21.1 [+ or -] 1.3 years) were equally (n = 16) assigned to a control (C), PT, TDT, or CT. Training was performed 3 times/week for 9 weeks. Testing was conducted before and after training for the evaluation of reaction time (single lateral step), 4-m lateral and forward sprints, 12-m forward sprints with and without turn, reactive ability, power, and strength. There was a significant difference in lateral speed (side-steps) between the 2 sides (P < 0.05). PT, TDT, or CT improved the 4m lateral and forward sprints (P < 0.05). PT and CT improved also the reaction time of the 'slow' side (P < 0.05), whereas TDT and CT improved the 12-m sprint performances with and without turn (P < 0.05). Power and strength improved in most tests after PT and CT. Lateral and forward sprints were correlated (r = -0.50 to -0.75; P < 0.05) with power/strength. In conclusion, PT improved fitness characteristics that rely more on reactive strength and powerful push-off of legs such as, lateral reaction time, 4-m lateral and forward sprints, drop jump and maximal force. TDT improved all 4-m and 12-m sprint performances, whereas CT appeared to incorporate the advantage of both programs and improved most tests items. Tennis coaches should be aware that each training regimen may induce more favorable changes to different aspects of fitness. KEY WORDS response, side step, speed, isometric, drop jump, unilateral