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Abstract

This study examined the influence of coaches’ emotional intelligence (EI) on communication styles during handball competitions, with coach efficacy beliefs as a mediating factor. A sample of 150 participants (100 athletes aged 10–19 years and 50 handball coaches) was recruited from competitive handball clubs. Coaches completed the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) and the Coach Efficacy Scale (CES), while athletes’ perceptions of coaches’ communication were assessed using the Coaching Communication Style Scale (CCSS). In-game verbal and nonverbal communication behaviors were coded using a structured observational manual. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, regression analyses, and mediation modeling (PROCESS macro, Model 4) were conducted, with statistical significance set at p < .05. Results revealed that higher EI scores were significantly associated with more supportive and clear communication styles (β = .42, p < .001). Mediation analysis indicated that coach efficacy beliefs partially mediated this relationship, accounting for 27% of the total effect. The findings suggest that emotionally intelligent coaches not only manage their emotions effectively but also communicate more constructively, which may enhance athlete understanding, motivation, and performance. These results highlight the importance of integrating EI and efficacy training into professional development programs for handball coaches. Future research should explore longitudinal designs to examine causal relationships and include diverse competitive levels to enhance generalizability.