Coaching Principles Test
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guarantees a person with a disability a position on any sport team he or she desires to join. b
a. true b. false
The best way to help your athletes learn to make good decisions in complicated game situations is to have them practice only simple tactics and NOT complex tactics. Answer: B
a. true b. false
This is an example of appropriately fulfilling the duty to provide proper instruction: Assistant coaches teach skills without supervision by the head coach b
a. true b. false
To help respond to an athlete with an eating disorder, it is best to involve other teammates. b
a. true b. false
To prevent drug use, it is generally more effective to inform athletes about drugs than it is to model responsible behavior for them. b
a. true b. false
Why is occasional feedback probably effective with more skilled athletes? Answer: C
a. It encourages them to overanalyze situations. b. It provides them with more of the coach's solutions to problems. c. It helps them become independent decision makers. d. It provides them with more feedback when their performances are in acceptable ranges. e. a and b
What is a characteristic of the most effective goals for athletes? Answer: A
a. They are based on performance. b. They are based on outcomes. c. They are challenging and frequently unrealistic. d. They are developed for the team. e. They are developed by the coach.
A medical doctor must be present at each athletic contest. b
a. true b. false
The traditional method would likely be most appropriate for teaching Answer a
a. a complex skill that has a significant risk of injury b. the principles underlying a technique c. tactical skills performed in complex, rapidly changing sport environments d. responsibility and leadership e. how to learn and function more independently
What are the three stages of learning? Answer: C
a. mental, physical, and practice b. mental, physical, and emotional c. mental, practice, and automatic d. mental, practice, and performance e. mental, performance, and automatic
The risk of eating disorders among athletes is increased by which factor(s)? c
a. no experience with dieting b. poor nutritional habits c. personal attributes of perfectionism d. a family history of obesity e. a and d
Which training method(s) for developing speed should help runners learn to relax the opposite muscle when the active muscle is working? Answer b
a. speed resistance training b. exercises for improving running form c. overspeed training d. all of these e. a and c
What provides the primary energy required for long-duration activity? Answer a
a. the aerobic system b. the anaerobic system c. the phosphagen system d. glycolysis e. lactic acid
When an athlete uses sport equipment she bought, who has the legal duty to inspect that equipment? a
a. the coach b. the athlete c. the equipment manufacturer d. the facilities manager e. a and b
What best describes the purpose of using the freeze replay in the games approach? Answer: a
a. to improve a specific technical skill through repetition b. to improve the athletes' concentration c. to explain a specific rule of the game d. to draw out the key elements of good play e. a and c
A high school athlete who is beginning a resistance training program should train three or four times per week. Answer b
a. true b. false
Success-oriented athletes think winning is a consequence of their abilities, and they think occasional failures are caused by their insufficient efforts. Answer: A
a. true b. false
The expectations of teachers and coaches can affect how athletes with low self-esteem tend to perform. Answer: A
a. true b. false
The motto "Athletes first, winning second" suggests that winning should be a low priority for a team. Answer: B
a. true b. false
The submissive style of coaching assumes the coach knows when to direct the athletes and when to allow the athletes to make decisions for themselves. Answer: B
a. true b. false
When athletes and coaching assistants are empowered, they are more likely to believe they are making a positive contribution to the team. Answer: A
a. true b. false
When athletes demonstrate appropriate ethical behavior, the coach should reward the behavior even if it is not exactly what the coach would have demonstrated. Answer: A
a. true b. false
What should a coach do when working with an athlete with a disability? Answer: E
a. Focus the coaching on what the athlete cannot do. b. Increase the competitive risks and failures the athlete has to deal with. c. Treat the athlete as more special than other athletes who are not disabled. d. Assist the athlete even when she does not request assistance. e. Disqualify the athlete if her disability creates a high risk to her well-being.
Which statement best summarizes the principle of overload? Answer b
a. Frequent workouts bring the best results. b. Fitness levels improve when more is demanded. c. Maximum stress is needed for maximum fitness. d. The more you do, the better you feel. e. Use it slow or lose it fast.
Which approach is probably most effective for discussing with athletes the issue of drug use? c
a. Limit the discussion to one preseason seminar on drug-free sport, and invite parents and guardians to attend. b. Arrange for the school principal and nurse to lead all discussions, and make participation optional for the coaching staff. c. Complete the discussions formally and informally, and have the coaching staff participate. d. Let the athletes' parents and guardians lead the discussions, and avoid discussing it at school. e. Arrange for medically qualified professionals to lead all discussions, and do not require the coaching staff to attend.
What is usually the best recommendation a coach should make for an athlete with a nutrient deficiency? c
a. Take vitamin supplements. b. Use creatine. c. Improve your normal diet without adding nutrient supplements. d. Drink energy drinks before and after exercise. e. a and d
What is the drawback when a coach bases her self-esteem on wins and losses in competition? Answer: E
a. The coach loses more athletic events. b. The distance between the coach's public self and her real self increases. c. Her athletes perceive the coach as weak when she loses. d. The coach gains some control of her self-esteem. e. The coach loses some control of her self-esteem.
What does the coaching philosophy "Athletes first, winning second" emphasize? Answer: D
a. Competitive sports for adolescents should be eliminated. b. Cooperative games in which no score is kept are more important to athletes than winning. c. Winning is important only after athletes have matured. d. Winning must be kept in perspective by a greater concern for the development of the athletes. e. b and c
When a coach listens to athletes and shows them that he cares, the coach's actions contribute most to which step in preventive discipline? Answer: A
a. Create the right team culture. b. Develop team rules. c. Create team routines. d. Conduct exciting practices. e. Catch them doing good.
Most muscles work independently. Answer b
a. true b. false
One example of tactical knowledge is how physical playing conditions affect a team's play. Answer: a
a. true b. false
After a coach discusses an athlete's drug problem with the athlete, the coach must notify the appropriate law-enforcement agency. b
a. true b. false
Conflict in a relationship can lead to a positive solution to a problem. a
a. true b. false
A 15-year-old athlete legally purchased and took a drug that required no prescription. Now he has slurred speech, loss of coordination, and slowed breathing. What type of drug did he probably take? c
a. alcohol b. amphetamine c. inhalant d. hallucinogen e. tobacco
What is the most widely misused drug among 12- to 17-year-olds? a
a. alcohol b. tobacco c. marijuana d. prescription medications e. crack cocaine
Dehydration reduces the flow of blood to the skin, and this limits the body's ability to sweat and cool itself. a
a. true b. false
What is appropriate to discuss at team meetings? Answer: B
a. an athlete's mistakes in the previous contest b. problems the team has executing specific plays c. an athlete's apparent drug use d. the announcement of who did not make the team e. a and b
During proper cool-down activities, the aerobic energy system helps remove lactic acid by converting it to fuel. Answer a
a. true b. false
Fast-twitch muscle fibers have more endurance than slow-twitch muscle fibers. Answer b
a. true b. false
For muscles that work in pairs, both muscles contract together or relax together to move the bone to which they are attached Answer b
a. true b. false
Positive discipline includes preventive discipline and corrective discipline. Answer: A
a. true b. false
The lists of skills included in an instruction plan should be as detailed and complete as possible. Answer a
a. true b. false
The mental skills that athletes learn are affected by the mental skills that their coaches demonstrate. Answer a
a. true b. false
The traditional approach to coaching teaches the whole game, and then it refines the parts. Answer: B
a. true b. false
A coach who uses active listening should interrupt athletes frequently to clarify what they mean. Answer: B
a. true b. false
A coach's perception of the coaching situations that challenge him has little effect on the stress the coach feels. Answer: B
a. true b. false
A good way to develop a coaching philosophy is to make as many people happy as possible. Answer: B
a. true b. false
A coach who wants others to trust him should be honest, genuine, and authentic. a
a. true b. false
A cool-down should include an aerobic phase and a stretching phase. Answer a
a. true b. false
An athlete's poor communication skills may limit his learning and performance. Answer a
a. true b. false
Athletes should limit the amount of weight they try to lose to two or fewer pounds per week. a
a. true b. false
Athletes who play for intrinsic rewards seldom maintain the long-term motivation needed for success in sport. Answer: B
a. true b. false
How a coach manages his weight has little effect on how his athletes manage theirs. b
a. true b. false
In comparison to blocked practice, variable practice creates better long-term performance. Answer: a
a. true b. false
In the early stages of learning, an athlete's sensory feedback plus feedback from the coach is often more effective than sensory feedback alone. Answer: A
a. true b. false
Negative discipline is effective in the short term and in the long term. Answer: B
a. true b. false
A coach whose communication style is direct, confident, constructive, and two-way uses which communication style? Answer: B
a. command b. cooperative c. games d. integrated e. submissive
When a coach makes winning the primary objective even when it stifles the athletes' motivation and enjoyment, what is the coach's primary coaching style? Answer: B
a. games style b. command style c. cooperative style d. integrated style e. submissive style
Which athlete skills should be evaluated in the preseason? Answer e
a. only offensive skills b. only defensive skills c. only advanced skills d. only specialty skills e. only essential skills the athletes can safely perform
Typically, an athlete's peer group provides the most influence on the athlete's thinking and life choices when the athlete is in what stage of development? Answer: C
a. preadolescence (9 to 10 years) b. early adolescence (11 to 14 years) c. middle adolescence (15 to 17 years) d. late adolescence (18 to 21 years) e. adulthood (21+ years)
When should a coach do most of the planning and preparation for the season? c
a. preseason b. in-season c. postseason d. a and b e. a and c
What test is recommended for evaluating the flexibility of the arms and shoulders? Answer d
a. sit-and-reach test b. bent-over row test c. triceps press-down test d. back scratch test e. seated press test
What energy fitness test is used in evaluating anaerobic capacity? Answer c
a. skinfold test b. bioelectrical impedance test c. 30-second max test d. sit-and-reach test e. 1.5-mile run test
A coach has a legal duty to provide adequate and proper equipment throughout the season. a
a. true b. false
A warm-up should begin with strenuous exercise, then progress to light, sport-specific activity and stretching, and then conclude with more intense work. Answer b
a. true b. false
Blood doping to increase an athlete's oxygen supply is permitted in most endurance sports. b
a. true b. false
Headfirst sliding is not an accepted procedure in high school softball. A coach who teaches this technique increases her chances of being found negligent when one of her athletes is injured sliding headfirst. a
a. true b. false
The frequency of exercise is the most important factor in designing and monitoring an energy training program. Answer b
a. true b. false
Athletes should be matched for competition based on their chronological age to prevent the risk of injury to younger athletes. Answer: B
a. true b. false
Feedback from others on how they see and react to a coach is a good way to increase the coach's self-awareness. Answer: A
a. true b. false
Intimidating movements, hostile gestures, and joyful facial expressions are examples of nonverbal communication. Answer: A
a. true b. false
Keeping athletes involved and challenged will help them experience optimal activation. Answer: A
a. true b. false
What is the difference between content and emotion in communication? Answer: B
a. Content is expressed nonverbally, and emotion is expressed verbally. b. Content is the substance of the message, and emotion is how you feel about it. c. Emotion mostly affects the messages you send, and content mostly affects the messages you receive. d. Generally, coaches are better at controlling the emotion of their messages rather than the substance of their messages. e. b and c
When mild hazing causes no physical discomfort, it is a harmless initiation ritual that helps to build team cohesiveness. Answer: B
a. true b. false
A coach should delegate as many logistical responsibilities as practical during the preseason. b
a. true b. false
A coach's primary tasks as a logistics manager include managing assistant coaches, team managers, athletic trainers, and other staff. a
a. true b. false
A very common coaching mistake is to provide inaccurate feedback and advice on how to correct errors. Answer: A
a. true b. false
Which diet should be best for most athletes? e
a. 25 percent carbohydrate, 20 percent fat, and 55 percent protein b. 30 percent carbohydrate, 30 percent fat, and 40 percent protein c. 35 percent carbohydrate, 35 percent fat, and 30 protein d. 45 percent carbohydrate, 30 percent fat, and 25 percent protein e. 55 percent carbohydrate, 25 percent fat, and 20 percent protein
What should a coach do when she disagrees with the medical decisions the team physician made for an athlete? d
a. Decline to use the physician's services in the future. b. Immediately send the athlete to another physician for a second opinion. c. Advise the athlete to ignore the physician's instructions. d. First discuss the issue with the physician, and then decide whether or not to seek another opinion. e. a and c
How can an athlete improve her running speed? Answer d
a. Decrease the length of her stride while maintaining her stride rate. b. Increase the length of her stride while decreasing her stride rate. c. Maintain her reaction time to the stimulus. d. Run at her top speed with added resistance. e. a and c
What should a coach do to more effectively coach athletes of varying cultural backgrounds? Answer: A
a. Understand the athletes' cultural heritages and how they might influence his coaching. b. Expect all athletes to display the same emotions and attitudes. c. Ignore cultural differences among athletes. d. Avoid discussing prejudices with athletes. e. all of these
Which guideline should a coach follow in teaching a technical skill? Answer: E
a. Vary the routine for starting each teaching session. b. Tell athletes not to ask questions until the introduction and demonstration are completed. c. Ignore athletes who are not attending and focus on those who are. d. Take at least 10 minutes to introduce the skill in great detail. e. Name the skill using its common name or a short, descriptive title.
During the practice stage of learning, how can a coach be most effective in helping athletes learn? Answer: e
a. When an athlete knows he made an error and how to correct it, immediately provide corrective feedback before the athlete has a chance to correct the error on his own. b. Focus the athletes' mental activity on refining the timing and coordination of the movements. c. Withhold positive reinforcement when the athletes perform a technical skill correctly. d. Focus the athletes' mental activity on the advanced skills they should learn after the practice stage. e. Increase the frequency and duration of verbal cues and feedback.
When a coach develops a plan of action for all of her team's contests against conference opponents, what is her plan called? Answer: d
a. a technical skills list b. a sport techniques list c. a tactical skills list d. a game plan checklist e. a team strategy
Running a 10-kilometer race (about 6.2 miles) emphasizes what type of fitness? Answer a
a. aerobic fitness b. anaerobic fitness c. muscular fitness d. preconditioning fitness e. a and b
What should a head coach assign to or provide to an assistant coach? b
a. any task the assistant coach should learn, even if she is not qualified to perform it b. meaningful coaching responsibilities c. tasks the head coach finds tedious to perform d. recognition for the assistant's contributions as long as the recognition is provided privately and not in front of the team e. b and d
Team routines should be Answer: e
a. as specific as possible b. determined by the coach and the team c. determined solely by the coach d. consistent and unchanging e. a and c
The most effective goals for an athlete to use in evaluating his success are goals that are set by the coach and by the Answer: A
a. athlete b. athletes' peer group c. parents d. school e. team
In order for coaches and athletes to keep winning in proper perspective, what goal should they emphasize? Answer: E
a. avoiding losses to less skilled opponents b. being rewarded for winning c. learning how to win consistently d. learning how to lose without complaint e. striving to win
As defined by Thomas Lickona, good character consists of three attributes. The first two are knowing the good and desiring the good. What is the third attribute? Answer: B
a. believing the good b. doing the good c. encouraging the good d. rewarding the good e. focusing on the good
A coach is likely to have the greatest effect on athletes' lives by teaching them about Answer: A
a. character development b. proficiency in technical skills c. proficiency in tactical skills d. physical conditioning e. b and c
When a coach decides his team will run sprints as part of their training program, what training decision has the coach made Answer a
a. choice of exercise b. order of exercises c. intensity of exercise d. volume of exercise e. frequency of training
When a coach permits athletes to make most of the decisions, encourages them to just play and have a good time, and avoids dealing with discipline problems, what is the coach's primary coaching style? Answer: E
a. command style b. cooperative style c. games style d. integrated style e. submissive style
Evaluating athletes and determining athletes' eligibility are activities that a coach performs primarily in her role as e
a. event and contest manager b. information manager c. instructional manager d. logistics manager e. personnel manager
What factors should be considered in the preseason evaluation of athletes' skills? Answer b
a. expectations of parents b. the athletes' physical, psychological, and social maturity c. the opponents' skill proficiencies d. the contest schedule e. b and d
An important benefit of active listening is that it enables a coach to Answer: d
a. focus on the athletes' thought processes rather than their emotions b. discourage discussion of the athletes' problems and fears unrelated to the sport c. increase the opportunities to express sympathy d. respond more constructively to the athletes e. decrease the coach's influence by increasing the athletes' independence
What coaching approach is especially effective in teaching athletes how to respond to changing game situations? Answer: e
a. focusing on technical skills, not on tactical skills b. frequent questioning of athletes while they're playing c. observing other athletes make decisions d. controlling feedback e. variable practice
What is the purpose of the coaches' legal duty to warn of inherent risks? b
a. to protect athletes from all risks in the sport b. to warn the coaches about their risks in the sport c. to teach the athletes about the inherent risks in the sport d. to minimize the inherent risks in the sport e. to eliminate the need for liability insurance
What coaching approach probably creates the greatest anxiety among athletes? Answer: E
a. using a variety of drills and activities b. setting realistic yet challenging goals c. giving a pep talk to athletes with low motivation d. neglecting to specify team goals e. creating uncertainty about who will start the next game
A coach should provide the highest, most direct level of supervision in which situation(s)? a
a. when athletes learn new skills b. while athletes dress for practice c. when athletes practice low-risk skills they can perform automatically d. while athletes complete cool-down activities late in the season e. a and c
