Abstract:
This study explored how the quality of the coach-player relationship was significant to
the volleyball coach and players’ commitment to the team through using the Leader-Member
Exchange (LMX) theory. The LMX theory is a theory of leadership that focuses on the quality of
the relationships between leaders and their subordinates. Six players and the head coach from the
same professional volleyball team were interviewed one-on-one in semi-structured interviews
using a qualitative descriptive study approach. The data were analyzed using a thematic analysis
approach to extract and analyze important thoughts and create themes for discussions. Findings
revealed that there were differences in perceptions of the players based on their status (starters or
reserves) in the team because of their quality of LMX relationships with their coach. Starters had
a positive perception while reserve players had an ambivalent perception towards their
relationship with their coach. Moreover, it discovered that the type of organizational commitment
displayed by the coach were affective and continuance commitment while the players displayed
affective and normative commitment which were also influenced by the quality of LMX
relationships that the participants had with each other. Future studies are recommended to
explore other sports using other communication and leadership theories in a local context to
expand the literature on organizational communication in the country.
