Many attribute the ultimate success of a sports team to the leadership of the head coach. These individuals bear the burden of losses and reap the rewards of wins. To be a successful coach there are a number of variables that play to the efficient communication of goals and motivational correspondence of vision. A coach must be an organized leader to keep the team, players and assistant coaches motivated and focused on the same goal. And the first commitment is being the expert who everyone looks to for decisions. (Hoefs, 2015) What can be identified as a successful coaching style can be attributed to a type of leadership that focuses on the skills needed to lead a team of players. This knowledge includes an in-depth understanding of the skills, tactics and strategies required for effective training, practices and game-day decisions. Most sports evolve over time, making it essential for coaches to learn new information as the competition, training techniques and rules change. (Hoefs. 2015)
What can be identified are a set of technical, human and conceptual skills that coaches utilize in effective leadership. The technical skills include knowledge and ability to use the tools and processes of the organization. (Penn State, 2015) Such as knowledge of the game, including tactical strategy. Human skills refer to interpersonal communication between the coach and players. This is a type of supportive leadership where the coach is able to communicate and transfer knowledge to the players as a form of guidance. (Penn State, 2015) The ability to effectively communicate thoughts to a player or assistant coach allows the leader to motivate and create a positive atmosphere at practice and games. Motivating and inspiring through words and actions, increase the likelihood for success. (Hoefs, 2015) The conceptual skills needed refer to the ability to translate a vision and can be attributed to the methods of play creation and explanation of routes and tactics. (Penn State, 2015)
What the Skills Approach attributes to the leadership style of a successful coach is the ability to learn and evolve skills over time. Coaches do this through career experience, which has the potential to create a timeline of winning seasons for any coach. Such learning includes, competencies that apply to game day situations, or dealing with players on a personal level. (Penn State, 2015) The ability to apply problem-solving skills, social judgment skills, and knowledge of coaching are important factors for success. (Nothouse, 2013) And if we apply this information in terms as crystallized cognitive ability then it can be assumed that with knowledge of the system of coaching comes the experience of a successful season.
The Skills Approach assesses leadership from a skill perspective, and places the ideas upon the structure of effective leadership. (Northouse, 2013) This allows the ideals of an effective coach to be tangible and able to evolve and grow along with the sport and players on the team. While there are personal attributes to effective leaders, and surely they can be applied to coaching. The applied skills and leadership abilities of a coach are what ultimately create a winning combination to the approach of a successful coach and team leader.
Works Cited
Hoefs, Jeremy.(2015). Characteristics & Qualities of a Sports Coach. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/438821-characteristics-qualities-of-a-sports-coach/
Northouse, P.G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and Practice. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.
Penn State University Course Creator.(2015). Lesson 4: Skills Approach. Retrieved from https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/fa15/psych485/001/content/04_lesson/01_page.html
Abigail Elena De La Mora says
I always felt that although the coach does have the obvious leadership role, it is actually the team caption was more the leader of the team. I found a article discussing this regarding football. The comment was that leading the offensive was one thing and leading the team was another. Michael Bennett stated “When I think of a leader, I think ‘ If he started a company, would guys come to work for him?'” (Patra, 2015). Quarterback leads the offense, gets everyone where they need to be and doing what they need to do to make the play. But after reading your blog, I wonder do I just assume its the quarterback because we see him most active in being the leader than we do with the head coach? We don’t see practices and what goes on in the locker room. My brother had a terrible coach during his high school football days. He ran the same plays and did nothing it seemed. They never won and the team was defeated each and every time. The quarterback could do nothing. He tried to get the guys pumped up and ready to go but without the support of the coach it just wasn’t enough. Thank you for your post!
Resource:
Patra, K. (August 26, 2015) Martellus Bennett: Why do we assume QB is leader? Retrieved from http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000516196/article/martellus-bennett-why-do-we-assume-qb-is-leader
Jeslynn Theresa Puskar says
This was a very interesting article. While I am very active, I’ve never been a big sports player, but I have always been absolutely mesmerized by how coaches lead. In attempting to explain it myself, I would have no idea where to even start. Initially when I read “skills approach” my automatic reaction would be to apply the “skills” to the players. However, I understand that this is not the case in the approach to leadership and even more so now, especially in regards to coaching. I think the key here, and as you point out is “learning and evolving”.
After taking another look at Mumford, et al. (2000) Skills Model as cited by PSU WC L. 4 (2015) and in conjunction with your description of coaches, they almost seems to mirror one another. Everything from cognitive ability to problem solving and knowledge are essential to lead a sports team into victory and of course, I can’t leave out motivation. However, one win is only one win and that is where your mention of “learning and evolving” comes in and further reinforces the skills approach and in this model in particular, as it points out the external factor of career experience. There is only one thing that I can’t really put my finger on though, and that is the personality aspect of the model. Is there one particular innate personality type that you think is more effective in leading teams than others?
References
Pennsylvania State University World Campus (2015). PSYCH 485
Lesson 4: Skills Approach. Retrieved from https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/fa15/psych485/001/content/04_lesson/05_page.html
Brandon T Boyd says
In reading your blog post regarding leadership skills and sports, I immediately thought of Coach John Wooden. For those unfamiliar, Wooden was the men’s basketball coach for UCLA for over 27 years. He was extremely successful during his tenure, winning over 600 games and 10 national championships (including 7 in a row). Looking at leadership from the skills approach, Wooden certainly had the technical expertise with his knowledge of basketball and clearly had the conceptual aspect under control through his strategies for winning, but it was the human aspect that really set him apart from other leaders. Pertaining to this particular topic, many attribute Wooden’s success on the court to his dedication to developing his young players.
Wooden once said, “Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability” (Wooden as cited in ESPN, 2010). Wooden’s profession was a coach, but he viewed himself more as a teacher. One of his greatest accomplishments was creating his Pyramid of Success, which helped to build leadership skills in his players. A few areas of focus within the pyramid include loyalty, enthusiasm, cooperation, initiative, confidence, and competitive greatness. Not only did Wooden have players practice basketball fundamentals, he also fostered and encouraged key abilities in each of his players through his leadership blueprint.
References:
John Wooden: Coach & teacher (2015). Retrieved from http://www.coachwooden.com/.
The wizard’s wisdom: ‘Woodensims’ (2010, June 5). ESPN. Retrieved from http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5249709.