Edinburgh Napier University

  Communication and player management are integral to effective sport of ciating, but most research has focused on physical performance and decision making. The few previous studies of of ciating communication tended to use “transmission” conceptualizations of communication (e.g., decision communication, impression management). Eleven of ciating-development managers and coaches from 7 peak Australian sport bodies were interviewed to explore conceptualizations of communication and player management, the way of cials improve, and the role of the sport bodies in improvement. Four salient themes emerged in conceptual- izations of effective of ciating communication and player management: personal qualities of the of cial, 1-way-communication direction giving and impression management, situation monitoring (interpreting player and context), and skilled interaction (adapting communication appropriately for context). The ndings highlight a mismatch between (a) interpretive and interactive communication skills perceived to be most important and challenging and (b) the training that is currently provided to of cials. There was general commonality in practice and training issues across sport codes. The article makes theoretical contributions to the study of sport-of cial communication and practical recommendations for improving approaches to training skilled communication and player management.