The phenomenological expertise of the elite quartet in light of the charismatic leadership of their coaches

Abstract

This study investigates the phenomenological experience of elite weightlifters and examines the role of coaches' charismatic leadership in shaping that experience. Drawing on Merleau-Ponty's existential-phenomenological framework, which conceives consciousness as always directed toward an intentional object, the research argues that athletic performance in weightlifting constitutes an integrated lived experience uniting body, mind, and environment - one that cannot be reduced to biomechanical output alone. The study employed a composite research design combining descriptive-correlational methods, psychometric scale development, and between-group difference analysis to address its multifaceted objectives. This deliberate integration of qualitative philosophical grounding with quantitative measurement tools is epistemologically justified by the growing tradition of operationalising phenomenological constructs through standardised instruments in sport psychology research. The research population comprised all Iraqi Central Weightlifting Federation-accredited coaches (n=28) and elite weightlifters who qualified for the 2025–2026 Iraqi Clubs Championship (n = 104, representing 20 clubs). The full sample participated in the study (28 coaches; 96 weightlifters; response rate = 92.3%). Two purpose-built five-point Likert scales were constructed and validated through expert panel review, internal consistency analysis (item-total Pearson correlation), and discriminant validity using extreme-groups comparison. Reliability was established using split-half coefficients corrected by the Spearman–Brown formula, and Cronbach's alpha (α=0.91 for the phenomenological experience scale; α= 0.93 for the charismatic leadership scale). Results indicate that elite weightlifters' phenomenological experience is characterised by profound affective and cognitive depth, with self-awareness intertwined with feelings of confidence and belonging. Coaches exhibiting a charismatic leadership style were associated with significantly higher levels of phenomenological experience among their athletes (t=8.14, p<0.01), underscoring the pivotal psychological influence of the coach–athlete relationship on elite performance.