Sport offers more than just physical activity. Sport teaches valuable life skills that can set participants up for success in many aspects of life.
Children and young adults who participate in sport have the opportunity to learn many leadership skills that are beneficial on and off the field. Athletes recognize the importance of teamwork and trust, learn to communicate effectively, think strategically, and become aware of their own strengths and weaknesses and those of their teammates.
Teamwork is one of the most fundamental skills learned through sport. Athletes build relationships with teammates, develop mutual respect and the importance of cooperation. Teamwork also involves delegation, a skill required by successful leaders. Team building skills in the workplace can positively influence group projects, campaigns, employee engagement and motivation in the workplace.
Communication is another leadership skill that can be developed through participation in sport. Specifically through team sports, athletes develop communication skills by working with their teammates to achieve a collective goal. Communication skills are vital for leaders to motivate, recognize and appreciate the great work of their departments and teams in and outside the workplace.
Sport also helps develop strategic planning and organization skills. Whether in team or individual sports, participants rely on strategy to achieve their goals. Athletes also learn to develop strategies on the spot to overcome any unexpected adversity. Leaders outside sport always have the ultimate goal in mind and have to be organized in developing strategic plans for their teams to operate efficiently and effectively.
Finally, sport helps individuals develop self-discipline and understanding. Self-discipline from sport can teach athletes what they need to improve upon by helping them recognize their own skillset. When faced with a difficult challenge in a team setting, for example, it’s important to acknowledge when your skillset doesn’t suit the task and when someone else’s does. This is true outside of sport as well. Leaders are not perfect and are constantly improving and acknowledging their weaknesses, allowing others to take the lead when necessary; this allows a team to operate as efficiently as possible.
A study published in Human Kinetics in 2017 looked at how participation in sport and other factors affect student leadership skills. Student-athletes scored significantly higher than non-athletes in overall transformational leadership, particularly in two indicators: management of self and management of feelings.
In a 2014 survey of women executives by EY Women Athletes Business Network and ESPNW found that 74 per cent said a background in sport can help accelerate a woman’s career, and 61 per cent said involvement in sports contributed to their career success. Another 2014 study published in the Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies found that men who played varsity-level sports in high school “appeared to demonstrate higher levels of leadership and had higher-status careers.”
Such evidence linking leadership skills with participation in sport, particularly at developmental ages, reinforces the value and benefit of youth participation in sport.
Sport develops leadership skills and leadership skills are important in and outside of the sport world. These skills help create successful teams on the field, effective leaders in the workplace and most importantly, foster individual personal growth.