Design and development selection criteria of Iranʹʹs Football National Team Head Coach

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to define and develop the criteria for selection of the head coach of Iran’s national football team and to determine the degree of importance of such criteria. The participants of this study include 368 coaches from across Iran with different coaching classes who are active in different levels of national teams, premier league, division 1 and other leagues. The research method of this study is of descriptive-survey type and the research tool is researcher-made questionnaire which its construct validity is examined through explorative-confirmative factor analysis using SPSS and AMOS software and its content validity is examined through the opinion of some experts who have a strong background in coaching at different levels. Its reliability however, is examined using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient at 0.86 levels. In the process of data analysis, Kolmogrov-Smirnov test is used for evaluating the normal distribution of data. Freedman test is also used to prioritize the indices of selecting the head coach of Iran’s national football team. Significant level of research hypotheses considered (?= 0.01). The results of this study indicated that in general the selection criteria of the head coach of Iran’s football team from the perspective of coaches include: 1) technical skills, 2) personality characteristics, 3) communication and social skills, 4) managerial skills, 5) personal characteristics, 6) coaching vision, 7) background as a coach, 8) psychological skills, and 9) background as a football player.