The perceptions of selected Taiwanese junior high school administrators and coaches in participating in a nationwide basketball league (China)

Although the popularity of basketball in secondary schools of Taiwan is rising, the overall participation rate is still less than 33%. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of the selected Taiwanese junior high school administrators and coaches toward the development of a nationwide basketball league. Major issues concerning the reasons and benefits of basketball participation at the junior high school level were identified and discussed.; One hundred and sixty-six (male = 120, female = 46) administrators ( n = 118) and coaches (n = 48) from city of Taipei (62 schools) and Nantou County (32 schools) participated in the study. Survey instruments were sent to all of the participants by regular mails. The rate of returned responses was 70.9% (166 out of 234). A 12-item questionnaire, which contained four subsets of 5-point Likert scale questions, was developed to elicit characteristics, perceptions toward basketball competition (5 items), criteria for building a successful varsity team (12 items), perceived benefits of participation (9 items), and impediments for continuing participation (12 items). Two pilot studies were conducted to examine the content validity and reliability of the questionnaire, and the lowest reliability coefficient of a among subsets (.6459) was obtained in the perceived benefits of participation. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation yielded a value of .7789 (p < .05) for the test-retest reliability. The content and translation (English to Chinese) of the questionnaire was also examined by a panel of experts, three American and three Taiwanese professors.; In general the participants recorded a moderate scoring average in the variable, Love of Sport & League (M = 3.26; SD = 0.79) despite a higher average score in Values toward Competition (M = 4.48; SD = 0.53). Based on the results of t-test analyses, male participants showed more interests in basketball than females (p < .05). In addition, significant differences were found in interests toward athletic competition and formation of the statewide league between genders but not geographical locations. A series of one-way ANOVA analysis showed that coaches were significantly more interest in basketball than administrators (p < .01). In addition, participants' interest in basketball and nation-wide league participation was significantly different based on the levels of education (p < .05). Administrators (both principals and athletic directors) and coaches' opinions on two of the non-participation barriers were significantly different (p < .05). The correlation analyses indicated that participants' willingness for involving a league-play was not highly correlated with the variables that were perceived as benefits for league, participation. However, it was suggested that two sub-factors. Academic factors and Needs of the teams, for maintaining a successful program were moderately correlated. Students' Benefits and Schools' Benefits are good predictors for the participants' interest toward basketball and the nationwide league participation.; In conclusion, suggestions and implications of the results for the Chinese Taipei High School Sports Federation to implement a nation-wide league play were discussed. Future studies related to league participation at the high school and intercollegiate levels should also be considered and emphasized.