Assessing the Action Competencies of Exercise Leaders

Abstract

The Erfassung der Handlungskompetenzen von Übungsleitenden (Assessment of the Action Competencies of Exercise Coaches), developed by Strauch et al. (2023), is a specialized psychometric instrument designed to measure the core professional competencies of exercise coaches. This measure is rooted in a robust theoretical competence model established by Sträuch, Wasche, & Jekauc (2018; 2019).

The scale specifically targets three crucial dimensions of coaching effectiveness: motivational, adaptive, and organizational competencies. The development involved generating an extensive item pool based on content analyses derived from qualitative interview studies. Following rigorous content validity analysis, the instrument was refined and validated across two independent studies. The final scale consists of 9 items, providing a concise yet reliable assessment of these three latent factors, with subsequent research confirming strong reliability and validity evidence.

Keywords

Action Competencies, Adaptation Competence, Client Attitudes, Coaches, Competence, Exercise, Exercise Coaches, Experience Level, Motivational Competence, Organizational Competence, Sport and Exercise Measures, Sports Coaching

Authors

Strauch, Ulrich Georg, Fritsch, Julian, Weyland, Susanne, Wäsche, Hagen, Vorgic, Stefani, Jekauc, Darko

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Purpose

The primary purpose of the Erfassung der Handlungskompetenzen von Übungsleitenden instrument is to provide a standardized and comprehensive assessment framework for evaluating the professional action competencies demonstrated by exercise instructors and coaches in their daily practice. By focusing on motivational, adaptive, and organizational skills, the scale allows researchers and practitioners to quantify specific dimensions crucial for effective exercise training delivery and client engagement.

This tool is essential for both research into coaching effectiveness and practical applications, such as professional development, training evaluation, and certification processes for individuals working in sport and exercise environments. The instrument aims to capture the multifaceted nature of competence beyond mere technical knowledge.

Construct

The scale measures Action Competence, a higher-order construct defined within the context of Coaching and Exercise Training. This construct is operationalized through three distinct, yet interrelated, sub-competencies, derived from the theoretical model developed by Sträuch, Wasche, & Jekauc (2018, 2019):

• Motivational Competence: The ability of the coach to inspire, encourage, and sustain client motivation toward physical activity goals.

• Adaptive Competence (Adaptation Competence): The skill set required for coaches to adjust training plans, communication styles, and instructional methods based on immediate feedback, changing circumstances, or individual client needs.

• Organizational Competence: The capacity of the coach to manage logistical aspects, plan sessions effectively, and maintain a structured, professional training environment.

Validity

The instrument provides strong evidence for both construct and criterion validity, supporting its use as a measure of coaching competence.

Construct Validity: Factor analysis results robustly supported the structural validity of the measure, confirming that the 9 items align significantly with the hypothesized three-factor structure (motivational, adaptive, and organizational competencies). This validation process confirmed the measure’s underlying theoretical framework.

Criterion Validity: Criterion validity was established by correlating the scale factors with the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES; Motl et al., 2001). In the primary three-factor model, all three competency dimensions showed significant positive correlation with PACES, suggesting that coaches rated higher on these competencies tend to foster greater enjoyment in physical activity among clients. A global one-factor model also showed a significant correlation with PACES. However, when tested using a bi-factor model, only the motivational skills factor demonstrated a significant correlation with PACES, highlighting the specific importance of motivational capacity in driving client enjoyment.

Reliability

The Erfassung der Handlungskompetenzen von Übungsleitenden demonstrated high internal consistency across its subscales, indicating strong measurement reliability.

The calculated Cronbach’s alpha values for the subscales ranged from 0.81 to 0.91. Furthermore, Omega values, often considered a more accurate measure of internal consistency, ranged from 0.86 to 0.96. These high coefficients confirm that the items within each dimension consistently measure the intended latent construct.

Factor Analysis

The scale structure was rigorously tested using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) across two separate validation studies to confirm model fit and structural integrity.

The CFA results strongly supported the hypothesized three-factor solution (Motivational, Adaptive, and Organizational competencies). The model fit statistics were excellent across both studies: Study 1 reported (χ2 (24) = 116.5; p < .01; CFI = .98; RMSEA = .06; AIC = 176.5), and Study 2 reported (χ2 (24) = 35.3; p < .01; CFI = .99; RMSEA = .04; AIC = 95.3). These values (CFI close to 1.0, RMSEA below 0.08) generally indicate a very good fit of the model to the observed data. Crucially, the factor loadings for all 9 items were statistically significant for their respective three latent factors, reinforcing the theoretical distinction between the competency domains.

Instrument

Test Type: Original Inventory/Questionnaire

Format: The instrument is highly concise, consisting of 9 items. Respondents utilize a 7-point Likert-type scale for rating, ranging from 1 (“strongly disagree”) to 7 (“completely agree”).

Language Available: German

Population Group: Human (Male, Female)

Age Group: Adulthood (18 years and older), including Young Adulthood (18-29 years), Thirties (30-39 years), Middle Age (40-64 years), and Aged (65 years and older).

Population Details: The scale development and validation were conducted using adult respondents located primarily in Germany.

Test Methodology: The comprehensive development and validation process involved multiple psychometric evaluations, including Test Validity, Construct Validity, Content Validity, Criterion Validity, Test Reliability, Internal Consistency (using Cronbach’s alpha and Omega coefficients), and Factor Analysis, specifically Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA).

Keywords

Action Competencies, Adaptation Competence, Client Attitudes, Coaches, Competence, Exercise, Exercise Coaches, Experience Level, Motivational Competence, Organizational Competence, Sport and Exercise Measures, Sports Coaching

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Authors

The scale was developed by a team affiliated with the Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT).

• Strauch, Ulrich Georg

  • Affiliation: Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT), Fakultät für Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften Institut für Sport und Sprtwissenschaft (IfSS)

  • Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected]

  • Correspondence Address: Fontanestr. 64, Woltersdorf, Germany, 15569

• Weyland, Susanne

  • ORCID iD: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1411-9016

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Permissions: Permissions for use must be obtained by contacting the Corresponding Author (Ulrich Georg Strauch).

Commercial: No

Fee: No

Test Year: 2023

Reference’s

Strauch, U. G., Fritsch, J., Weyland, S., Wäsche, H., Vorgic, S., & Jekauc, D. (2023). Erfassung der Handlungskompetenzen von Übungsleitenden: Entwicklung und Analyse der Reliabilität und Validität eines Fragebogens [Assessment of the competencies of coaches. Development and analysis of the reliability and validity of a questionnaire]. Zeitschrift für Sportpsychologie, 30(2), 47–63. https://doi.org/10.1026/1612-5010/a000376

Motl et al. (2001). Reference for the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) used for criterion validity assessment.

Sträuch, Wasche, & Jekauc (2018; 2019). Theoretical competence model grounding the scale development.

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Items of the Erfassung der Handlungskompetenzen von Übungsleitenden

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

No data is Available.