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Effectiveness of leadership development for students in sports CCA in Singapore schools
Author
Koh, Morris Leong Seng
Supervisor
Koh, Koon Teck
Abstract
Parents, coaches and school administrators assumed that students would acquire important life-skills and develop leadership qualities through engagement in sports (Gould, Carson, Fifer, Lauer & Benham, 2009). However, there was little evidence to assume that involvement in sports would prepare students to assume leadership roles (Wright & Côté, 2003). But, there are beliefs that sports do provide an avenue to develop student leadership (Gilbert, Gilbert & Trudel, 2001; Lee, 2012).
The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of leadership development of students in sports Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) in Singapore schools. In this study, views were sought from participants’ perceptions on the current effectiveness of leadership development for team captains in sports CCAs. It examined the leadership development opportunities that team captains have experienced during their engagement in sports. Comparisons were also made with input received from male and female participants in team and individual sports.
Research has shown that one of the ways to develop leadership skill is through sport (Lee, 2012). Indeed, students in Singapore are given ample opportunities to develop such skill through a variety of co-curricular programmes such as sports CCA. Secondly, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has increased financial support to schools so that they can provide more opportunity for student leadership development programmes through sport. However, there have been limited studies done to investigate the effectiveness of student leadership development in sports CCA. Forty participants including male athletes (n=22) and female (n=14) athletes, together with two male coaches and two male teachers, volunteered for this study. Athletes from two team sports, rugby (n=11) and volleyball (n=6), and two individual sports, bowling (n=8) and table tennis (n=11) were purposefully selected to participate in this study. Results from this study indicated that schools have put in effort to train their team captains. Team captains reported that they have benefitted from attending leadership training camps. They shared how they learnt to think out of the box and experienced the importance of perseverance. However, teachers indicated that there was a need to follow up with team captains after those camps have ended to ensure there is a transfer of learning. Team captains reported that they needed guidance to help them link what they have learnt from the camps to perform their role as captain of the team better. Results from this study provide valuable information for schools to adopt a more holistic approach to student leadership development in sports CCA.
The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of leadership development of students in sports Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) in Singapore schools. In this study, views were sought from participants’ perceptions on the current effectiveness of leadership development for team captains in sports CCAs. It examined the leadership development opportunities that team captains have experienced during their engagement in sports. Comparisons were also made with input received from male and female participants in team and individual sports.
Research has shown that one of the ways to develop leadership skill is through sport (Lee, 2012). Indeed, students in Singapore are given ample opportunities to develop such skill through a variety of co-curricular programmes such as sports CCA. Secondly, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has increased financial support to schools so that they can provide more opportunity for student leadership development programmes through sport. However, there have been limited studies done to investigate the effectiveness of student leadership development in sports CCA. Forty participants including male athletes (n=22) and female (n=14) athletes, together with two male coaches and two male teachers, volunteered for this study. Athletes from two team sports, rugby (n=11) and volleyball (n=6), and two individual sports, bowling (n=8) and table tennis (n=11) were purposefully selected to participate in this study. Results from this study indicated that schools have put in effort to train their team captains. Team captains reported that they have benefitted from attending leadership training camps. They shared how they learnt to think out of the box and experienced the importance of perseverance. However, teachers indicated that there was a need to follow up with team captains after those camps have ended to ensure there is a transfer of learning. Team captains reported that they needed guidance to help them link what they have learnt from the camps to perform their role as captain of the team better. Results from this study provide valuable information for schools to adopt a more holistic approach to student leadership development in sports CCA.
Date Issued
2014
Call Number
LB2346 Koh
Date Submitted
2014