Leadership in Sports Coaching ― A Social Identity Approach

The professionalisation of sports coaching has demanded higher standards of leadership, in order to improve coaching effectiveness and sports governance. This book focuses on leadership in sports coaching, exploring key concepts and principles, and presenting case studies and new empirical research material that strengthen the evidence base. At the centre of the book is social identity theory, a theory not previously applied to coaching, that provides students and researchers with a new tool for understanding the complex social dynamic that is the coaching process. The book explores key issues such as leadership style, measuring effectiveness, motivation, confidence and team self-esteem.

Paul Cummins is a lecturer in performance psychology at the University of Ulster, UK. His research interests include leadership in sport, athlete transitions, culture change and social identity, particularly as they apply within the context of sport coaching. Paul is a qualified sport psychologist who has worked with Olympic level athletes and top coaches seeking to improve their leadership and overall coaching performance. Paul’s previous publications include Leadership in Sport (co-edited with Ian O’Boyle and Duncan Murray, 2015), and he is the managing director of SeaChange Ltd.

Ian O’Boyle is a senior lecturer in sport and recreation management within the School of Management at the University of South Australia. His research interests related to the broad topic of leadership in sport and other associated disciplines within the field of sport management. He was previously affiliated with the University of Ulster in the UK and Massey University in New Zealand, and has published widely within sport studies in both management and coaching domains. His previous publications include Leadership in Sport (co-edited with Paul Cummins and Duncan Murray, 2015) and Organisational Performance Management in Sport (2015).