Case Study 1 – Leadership & Coaching The role of a leader on a sports team – whether a player or a coach – is an important position to fill. A good leader will motivate the team, take responsibility, promote a good work ethic, and perform various other roles in order to help the team be at their best. Without a great player in the leader position, a team will often not realize an explicit team orientation or direction, lack a role model for what to do and how to do it, and will be without a player to rely on in the ‘clutch’ moments of a game. Without a great coach as a leader, players will often not play to their full potential as a team, play with less than optimal passion, and not receive the emotional and mental support needed to excel. Focusing on the aspects of a great leader in the coaching position, it is important to think about what type of leader would excel as a coach and how important great leadership is to the coaching position. As the Situational Leadership Model suggests, different leadership strategies are appropriate for different settings and depending on those who are being led. To be an appropriate leader, the coach will need to know how his players handle instruction, criticism, and praise; as well as how the team learns best, what level of independence will harbor the most success, and the dynamics of the team with regard to chemistry, culture, etc. It would seem, then, that to be a great leader, a coach has two basic options: only coach players who will fit and be led best by their preferred coaching style, or adapt the coaching style based on what the players will respond best to. Of course, the coach will be able to dictate this more or less depending on level of competition, clout with the organization, etc. a) How might the role of a coach as a leader differ from Club to National teams? b) Would the mentality needed for different sports warrant a different type of leader in the coaching position? c) Is there a certain personality type which would excel at being a leader specifically in sports, as a coach?
Case Study 1 – Leadership & Coaching
The role of a leader on a sports team – whether a player or a coach – is an important position to
fill. A good leader will motivate the team, take responsibility, promote a good work ethic, and
perform various other roles in order to help the team be at their best. Without a great player in
the leader position, a team will often not realize an explicit team orientation or direction, lack a
role model for what to do and how to do it, and will be without a player to rely on in the
‘clutch’ moments of a game. Without a great coach as a leader, players will often not play to
their full potential as a team, play with less than optimal passion, and not receive the emotional
and mental support needed to excel. Focusing on the aspects of a great leader in the coaching
position, it is important to think about what type of leader would excel as a coach and how
important great leadership is to the coaching position.
As the Situational Leadership Model suggests, different leadership strategies are appropriate
for different settings and depending on those who are being led. To be an appropriate leader,
the coach will need to know how his players handle instruction, criticism, and praise; as well as
how the team learns best, what level of independence will harbor the most success, and the
dynamics of the team with regard to chemistry, culture, etc. It would seem, then, that to be a
great leader, a coach has two basic options: only coach players who will fit and be led best by
their preferred coaching style, or adapt the coaching style based on what the players will
respond best to. Of course, the coach will be able to dictate this more or less depending on
level of competition, clout with the organization, etc.
a) How might the role of a coach as a leader differ from Club to National teams?
b) Would the mentality needed for different sports warrant a different type of leader in the
coaching position?
c) Is there a certain personality type which would excel at being a leader specifically in sports,
as a coach?
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