Exploring the effect of athlete leadership on the cohesion-performance relationship

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of athlete leader behaviours (formal and informal) on cohesion and performance. The participants were 190 athletes competing at the varsity level. Each participant completed the Group Environment Questionnaire (Carron et al., 1985), the Leadership Scale for Sports (Chelladurai & Selah, 1980), and a performance measure. The results indicated that two informal athlete leader behaviours moderated the cohesion-performance relationship. It was also found that both formal and informal athlete leadership behaviours of Training and Instruction were related to performance. Finally, the formal athlete leader behaviours of Democratic Behaviour, Positive Feedback, Social Support, and Training and Instruction were related with cohesion. While the informal athlete leader behaviours of Social Support and Training and Instruction were associated with cohesion. Overall, coaches and sport psychology consultants should emphasize the development of athlete leader behaviours given their relation to cohesion and performance.