Coaches who spend more time for professional growth register higher levels of unconscious aggression

A sports coach should value clear communication, effective motivational techniques, having the ability to enhance self-efficacy and reduce anxiety in their athletes. In sports, the manifestation of unconscious (automatic) aggression can be observed in various contexts, ranging from personal relationships to professional settings. The underlying motivations for implicit aggression are complex and multifaceted, often stemming from a combination of personal insecurities, unresolved conflicts, and social dynamics. The aim of the study was to explore the unconscious/automatic aggression of novice coaches and, also, the relation between implicit aggression and coaches’ level of involvement in their own professional growth. Also, gender-related differences were explored (in sports coaches) taking into consideration unconscious aggression. The study involved 47 novice coaches from various sports disciplines. To assess unconscious (implicit) aggression an Implicit Associations Test (IAT) was applied. Kendall Tau-B correlation was used to verify if there is a significant association between IAT scores and coaches’ level of involvement in their professional growth. It seems that a higher level of unconscious aggression (Aggression associated with Others, not with Self) is linked with more hours (per week) dedicated for professional growth. Also, the gender-related differences in terms of unconscious aggression were explored, in the case of novice coaches. Independent sample t test emphasized no gender-based differences taking into consideration coaches’ unconscious/automatic aggression.