Sportspersonship and Perceptions of Leadership: An Investigation of Adolescent Handball Players' Perceptions of Sportspersonship and Associations With Perceived Leadership

Abstract

In contemporary society, there is a concern about the excessive importance placed on winning in sport. Research suggests that an overemphasis on competitive outcomes generates moral problems that reduces pro-social behavior and even promotes antisocial behavior. In order to promote fair play and sociomoral attitudes, coaches and their leadership may be of significant importance. The aim of this investigation was to assess sportspersonship among adolescent handball players in Norway (N = 440) and investigate how the players' perceptions of coaches' leadership were associated with such behavior. Results showed that the players in general perceived themselves to behave pro-socially. However, the players also reported instrumental aggressive behavior and low respect for opponents. Associations of perceived leadership with sportspersonship were found primarily for individual perceptions compared to teammates' perceptions. This may indicate that it is the personalized leadership in dyadic relations that influences sportspersonship. Players' perceptions of supportive leadership dimensions were found to be associated with sportspersonship. More research incorporating designs better suited to test the causality between personal perceptions of coaches' leadership and sportspersonship is needed.