Qualities, characteristics and roles of effective
sports leaders A leader ‘A distinguishing feature or
attribute of an item or person’
Qualities
knowledge of sport skills
O Know and understand the skills required
O Able to demonstrate
O Understand how to develop a skill, from
basic to advance
O Improve performance
knowledge of rules and laws
O Need to be a good role model
O Pass on their understanding to the participants
O Promote fair play
understanding the mental needs of participants
O Need to know what motivates the players
O Session should take into account what the participants want to get out of it
O Want participants to engage
understanding the physical needs of participants
O Age of participants will affect the session
O Young – more intense
O Fitness levels will affect
O May have participants with physical disabilites
Characteristics
ConsistentO Same behaviour each session
O Not changing
O Same characteristics
O Same approach
Approachable O Should be easy for participants to
come to you with any issues
O Not intimidating
O Friendly
O Good conduct
Goal Focused O Have Short/Medium and Long term
targets
O Share the targets
O Flexible
Commitment O Put time and effort in
O Great attendance
O Punctuality
O Keep trying
O Don’t give up
Roles
Role modelO Set an example
O Set the standards
O Responsible for participants
O Ethusiatic
PsychologistO Understand sports psychology
O What motivates them
O How they interact
O Getting the best out of each individual
MotivatorO Keep people interested
O Enthusiasm
O Need to know what makes the participants tick
