Main Article Content

Abstract

This study examined perceptions of effective leadership in elite women’s soccer by team captains. Data were collected from a range of perspectives in four elite female soccer teams in England. For each of the four teams, data were collected from 6 participants (total N = 24 players). For each of the four teams, interviews were conducted with the captain and the coach as well as a focus group with 4 players regarding their perceptions of the captain’s leadership. Data were firstly deductively categorised under the four key areas of transformational leadership: idealised influence, inspirational motivation, individualised consideration and intellectual stimulation. An inductive analysis of the relevant data which did not fit into these themes revealed the importance of captains building bridges through helping to navigate the gender gap as well as to facilitate effective relationships with and between players. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Keywords

effective leadership qualitative analysis transformational leadership women’s soccer

Article Details

How to Cite
Rhind, D. J. A., Hodson, E. ., Newman, J. ., & Rumbold, J. . (2022). Transformational Leadership: A Qualitative Analysis of Effective Leadership in Women’s Soccer in England. Unisia, 40(2), 257–276. https://doi.org/10.20885/unisia.vol40.iss2.art1

References

  1. Antonakis, J., & Atwater, L. (2002). Leader distance: A review and a proposed theory. The Leadership Quarterly, 13(6), 673–704. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1048-9843(02)00155-8

  2. Arthur, C. A., Bastardoz, N., & Eklund, R. (2017). Transformational leadership in sport: Current status and future directions. Current Opinion in Psychology, 16, 78–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.04.001

  3. Arthur, C. A., Hardy, L., & Woodman, T. (2012). Realising the Olympic dream: Vision, support and challenge. Reflective Practice, 13(3), 399–406. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623943.2012.670112

  4. Barrow, J. C. (1977). The variables of leadership: A review and conceptual framework. The Academy of Management Review, 2(2), 231. https://doi.org/10.2307/257906

  5. Bass, B. M. (1985). Leadership and performance beyond expectations. Free Press.

  6. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2019). Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11(4), 589–597. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1628806

  7. Braun, V., Clarke, V., Hayfield, N., & Terry, G. (2019). Thematic analysis. In P. Liamputtong (Ed.), Handbook of research methods in health social sciences (pp. 843–860). Springer Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5251-4_103

  8. Braun, V., Clarke, V., & Rance, N. (2014). How to use thematic analysis with interview data. In A. Vossler & N. Moller (Eds.), The counselling and psychotherapy research handbook (pp. 183–197). SAGE Publications Ltd.

  9. Braun, V., Clarke, V., & Weate, P. (2016). Using thematic analysis in sport and exercise research. In B. Smith & A. C. Sparkes (Eds.), Routledge handbook of qualitative research in sport and exercise (pp. 191–205). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315762012-26/using-thematic-analysis-sport-exercise-research-virginia-braun-victoria-clarke-paul-weate

  10. Burton, L. J., & Leberman, S. (Eds.). (2017). Women in sport leadership: Research and practice for change (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315542775

  11. Callow, N., Smith, M. J., Hardy, L., Arthur, C. A., & Hardy, J. (2009). Measurement of transformational leadership and its relationship with team cohesion and performance level. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 21(4), 395–412. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200903204754

  12. Cotterill, S. T., & Cheetham, R. (2017). The experience of captaincy in professional sport: The case of elite professional rugby. European Journal of Sport Science, 17(2), 215–221. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2016.1245788

  13. Cotterill, S. T., & Fransen, K. (2016). Athlete leadership in sport teams: Current understanding and future directions. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 9(1), 116–133. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2015.1124443

  14. Crust, L., & Lawrence, I. (2006). A review of leadership in sport: Implications for football management. Athletic Insight Journal, 8(4), 28–48. https://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/id/eprint/6438/

  15. Duggleby, W. (2005). What about focus group interaction data? Qualitative Health Research, 15(6), 832–840. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732304273916

  16. Evans, A. B., & Pfister, G. U. (2021). Women in sports leadership: A systematic narrative review. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 56(3), 317–342. https://doi.org/10.1177/1012690220911842

  17. Fiedler, F. E. (1996). Research on leadership selection and training: One view of the future. Administrative Science Quarterly, 41(2), 241–250. https://doi.org/10.2307/2393716

  18. Fransen, K., Cotterill, S. T., Vande Broek, G., & Boen, F. (2019). Unpicking the emperor’s new clothes: Perceived attributes of the captain in sports teams. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2212. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02212

  19. Fransen, K., Haslam, S. A., Mallett, C. J., Steffens, N. K., Peters, K., & Boen, F. (2017). Is perceived athlete leadership quality related to team effectiveness? A comparison of three professional sports teams. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 20(8), 800–806. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2016.11.024

  20. Fransen, K., Vanbeselaere, N., De Cuyper, B., Broek, G., & Boen, F. (2018). When is a leader considered as a good leader? Perceived impact on teammates’ confidence and social acceptance as key ingredients. International Journal of Psychological Research, 12, 1–21. https://www.proquest.com/docview/2190325223

  21. Fransen, K., Vanbeselaere, N., De Cuyper, B., Vande Broek, G., & Boen, F. (2014). The myth of the team captain as principal leader: Extending the athlete leadership classification within sport teams. Journal of Sports Sciences, 32(14), 1389–1397. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2014.891291

  22. García-Guiu, C., Moya, M., Molero, F., & Moriano, J. A. (2016). Transformational leadership and group potency in small military units: The mediating role of group identification and cohesion. Revista de Psicología Del Trabajo y de Las Organizaciones, 32(3), 145–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rpto.2016.06.002

  23. Gould, D., Voelker, D. K., & Griffes, K. (2013). Best coaching practices for developing team captains. The Sport Psychologist, 27(1), 13–26. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.27.1.13

  24. Guba, E. G., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2005). Paradigmatic controversies, contradictions, and emerging confluences. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The Sage handbook of qualitative research (3rd edition, pp. 191–215). Sage Publications Ltd. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2005-07735-008

  25. Lai, F.-Y., Tang, H.-C., Lu, S.-C., Lee, Y.-C., & Lin, C.-C. (2020). Transformational leadership and job performance: The mediating role of work engagement. SAGE Open, 10(1), 215824401989908. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244019899085

  26. Leo, F. M., García-Calvo, T., González-Ponce, I., Pulido, J. J., & Fransen, K. (2019). How many leaders does it take to lead a sports team? The relationship between the number of leaders and the effectiveness of professional sports teams. PLOS ONE, 14(6), e0218167. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0218167

  27. Longhead, T. M., Hardy, J., & Eys, M. A. (2006). The nature of athlete leadership. Journal of Sport Behavior, 29, 142–158. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2006-06511-003

  28. Maitland, A., Hills, L. A., & Rhind, D. J. (2015). Organisational culture in sport – A systematic review. Sport Management Review, 18(4), 501–516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smr.2014.11.004

  29. Moscoso Sánchez, D. J. (2005). La construcción social y cultural del liderazgo en el deporte [The social and cultural construction of leadership in sports]. Apunts. Educación Física y Deportes, 79, 5–12. https://revista-apunts.com/la-construccion-social-y-cultural-del-liderazgo-en-el-deporte/

  30. Newland, A., Newton, M., Podlog, L., Legg, W. E., & Tanner, P. (2015). Exploring the nature of transformational leadership in sports: A phenomenological examination with female athletes. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 7(5), 663–687. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2015.1007889

  31. Nowell, L. S., Norris, J. M., White, D. E., & Moules, N. J. (2017). Thematic analysis: Striving to meet the trustworthiness criteria. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16(1), 160940691773384. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406917733847

  32. Price, M. S., & Weiss, M. R. (2011). Peer leadership in sport: Relationships among personal characteristics, leader behaviors, and team outcomes. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 23(1), 49–64. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2010.520300

  33. Randall, W. L., & Phoenix, C. (2009). The problem with truth in qualitative interviews: Reflections from a narrative perspective. Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise, 1(2), 125–140. https://doi.org/10.1080/19398440902908993

  34. Rhind, D. J. A., & Jowett, S. (2010). Relationship maintenance strategies in the coach-athlete relationship: The development of the COMPASS model. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 22(1), 106–121. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200903474472

  35. Rhind, D. J. A., & Jowett, S. (2011). Working with coach–athlete relationships: Their quality and maintenance. In S. Hanton & S. Mellalieu (Eds.), Professional practice in sport psychology (pp. 219–244). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203851333-10/working-coach%E2%80%93athlete-relationships-daniel-rhind-sophia-jowett

  36. Rhind, D. J. A., Jowett, S., & Yang, S. X. (2012). A comparison of athletes’ perceptions of the coach-athlete relationship in team and individual sports. Journal of Sport Behavior, 35, 433–452. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2012-30794-005

  37. Rowold, J. (2006). Transformational and transactional leadership in martial arts. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 18(4), 312–325. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200600944082

  38. Slater, M. J., Coffee, P., Barker, J. B., & Evans, A. L. (2014). Promoting shared meanings in group memberships: A social identity approach to leadership in sport. Reflective Practice, 15(5), 672–685. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623943.2014.944126

  39. Smith, B., & Sparkes, A. C. (2016). Introduction: An invitation to qualitative research. In B. Smith & A. C. Sparkes (Eds.), Routledge handbook of qualitative research in sport and exercise (pp. 1–7). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315762012-9/introduction-invitation-qualitative-research-brett-smith-andrew-sparkes

  40. Smith, M. J., Young, D. J., Figgins, S. G., & Arthur, C. A. (2017). Transformational leadership in elite sport: A qualitative analysis of effective leadership behaviors in cricket. The Sport Psychologist, 31(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2015-0077

  41. Swann, C., Moran, A., & Piggott, D. (2015). Defining elite athletes: Issues in the study of expert performance in sport psychology. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 16(1), 3–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2014.07.004

  42. Vallée, C. N., & Bloom, G. A. (2005). Building a successful university program: Key and common elements of expert coaches. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 17(3), 179–196. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200591010021

  43. Voelker, D. K., Gould, D., & Crawford, M. J. (2011). Understanding the experience of high school sport captains. The Sport Psychologist, 25(1), 47–66. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.25.1.47

  44. Wright, A., & Côté, J. (2003). A retrospective analysis of leadership development through sport. The Sport Psychologist, 17(3), 268–291. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.17.3.268

No Related Submission Found