Leadership experiences amongst elite female rugby players: A different approach to team leadership
Cotterill, Stewart and Cheetham, Richard (2026) Leadership experiences amongst elite female rugby players: A different approach to team leadership. Behavioral Sciences, 16. ISSN 2076-328X
|
Text
Cotterill 2026 Behavioral Sciences full article.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (294kB) | Preview |
Abstract
Leadership, and athlete leadership in particular, has been reported to be an important factor impacting upon team performance. However, while there is significant evidence supporting the importance of athlete leadership for teams, there is very little research exploring the leadership experiences and needs of female sports teams. As a result, the aim of this study was to explore the leadership experiences of the captains of professional women’s rugby teams. Participants included eight professional women’s rugby captains, recruited through personal contact. Data were analyzed adopting an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach, resulting in the emergence of 10 superordinate themes including: factors influencing success, challenges, amateur level, leader characteristics, role models, aspects of the role, types of captains, leading by example, selection, and women’s game. Data suggests that empathy, empowerment, collaboration and shared/devolved leadership are crucial components of leadership for elite women’s rugby teams.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Schools: | School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Bridget Roberts |
| Date Deposited: | 05 Nov 2026 13:15 |
| Last Modified: | 05 Nov 2026 13:20 |
| URI: | https://hsu.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/687 |
Actions (login required)
 |
Edit Item |