Transformational leadership in club sports

Increased spending in Campus Recreation and decreases in higher education funding have created a need for Campus Recreation programs to promote their ability to develop students into successful leaders, but little is known regarding how such student development is fostered (Forrester, 2014; Mitchell et al., 2019). Club Sport programs are perceived to provide the greatest benefits among all Campus Recreation offerings and contribute to the development of leadership characteristics (Dugan et al., 2015). Transformational Leadership (TFL) is one of the most acclaimed leadership theories associated with organizational success (Wang et al., 2011) and the development of organization leaders (Gassman et al., 2014). The purpose of this study is to determine whether Club Sports Presidents are perceived to exhibit Transformational Leadership characteristics. Results indicated that most Club Sport members perceived Club Sports Presidents to exhibit characteristics of Transformational Leadership. Findings suggest that Club Sports programs have a unique and significant impact on the TFL skill development of those who participate.