Investigating the Mediating Role of Coaches'Sense of Humor in Causative Relation of Transformational (Inspirational) Leadership with Sport Achievement Motivation in Elite Athletes

The purpose of this descriptive-analytical study, which was conducted in the field, was to investigate the mediating role of coach's humor in relation to the transformational (inspiring) leadership of coaches and the motivation of elite athletes to achieve sports. The statistical population of the study included all athletes of men's and women's sports teams in Khorasan Razavi province present in the country's premier leagues in 1399 with a total of 268 people, which was a simple random number of 158 people using Morgan and Krejcie table formula as a statistical sample. They were selected and answered the standard questionnaires of Ismaili Sports Motivation (2014), Transformational Leadership of Bass and Olivier (2000) and Tenderness of Martin et al. (1988). The content and face validity of the questionnaires were confirmed by the professors of sports management. Also, the reliability of the instrument was confirmed by using Cronbach's alpha test. Structural equation method and Smart PLS software version 2 were used to analyze the data and examine the relationships between the variables. Findings showed that transformational (inspiring) leadership and coaches 'humor have a significant effect on athletes' athletic achievement motivation. Humor also plays a mediating role in the impact of transformational leadership on athletes' athletic development motivation. According to the findings, coaches can become transformational leaders who inspire athletes and lead them to higher levels of success.