Multi-method assessment of a leader development intervention for varsity team captains

ABSTRACT

Athlete leader development is a topic of interest in sports psychology and programs to facilitate athlete leader development have been proliferating. Yet, little work has been done to validate the effectiveness of these programs. This multi-year mixed method study examined the standard-setting behavior of varsity team captains from an NCAA Division I military academy following an athlete leader development intervention. The intervention consisted of speakers, lectures, and small group discussions. Qualitative analysis of the intervention confirmed integration of key concepts: standards are different than rules, leaders set the tone for team culture, standards must be messaged properly, and standard-setting is promoted by communities of leaders. The quantitative analysis compared team member reports of standard-setting behavior of the varsity team captains with a control group of student leaders that supported the efficacy of the intervention. We discuss the challenges of conducting assessments of athlete leader development and make recommendations for future efforts.

KEYWORDS:

• Athlete leader development
• team captain
• leadership scale for sport
• standard-setting
• programmatic assessment
• mixed methods
• leader development intervention
• college athlete leaders

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to General Dynamics for their support of the ADM Jay Johnson Professorship of Leadership and Ethics and the Naval Academy Class of ‘67 for their support of the Class of ‘67 Leadership Research Fellow.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christine L. Copper

Dr Christine L. Copper is an ADM Jay Johnson Professor of Leadership and Ethics and the NCAA faculty representative at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, where she is a professor in the Chemistry Department.

Kevin M. Mullaney

Dr Kevin M. Mullaney is a Permanent Military Professor in the Leadership, Ethics, and Law Department at the United States Naval Academy.

Celeste Raver Luning

Dr Celeste Raver Luning is the Class of ‘67 Leadership Research Fellow in the Leadership, Ethics, and Law Department at the United States Naval Academy.

Cory F. Oberst

LT Cory F. Oberst is a Leadership Education and Development Master’s Graduate at George Washington University and the United States Naval Academy.