Exploring Coach-Enacted Touch Communication in Sports: Construction and Testing of the Athletic Coaching Touch Utility Index

• In Event: Touch and Distancing in Professional and Applied Contexts

Abstract

This study entailed the construction and testing of the Athletic Coaching Touch Utility Index (ACTUI), an instrument designed to examine how coach-enacted touch relates to athletes' perceptions of self and relatedness to their coaches. Preliminary factor analysis offered support for a five-component conceptualization of touch utility characterized by how much coach-enacted touch is perceived as fostering trust and respect, showing appreciation, helping to build skills, comforting, and limiting sexual arousal. The revised index (ACTUI-R) was used along with web videos to examine 324 observers' interpretations of athletes' emotional and relational
perceptions across four touch conditions. Results indicated that touch type and coach/ athlete gender impacted observers' perceptions of the levels of appreciation, trust/respect, sexual-arousal, and skill building that were being communicated (p < 0.05).

Author

• Michael James Miller, University of Connecticut