Degree Date
5-2-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Education
First Advisor
Acacia Nikoi
Abstract
The impact of sports on American society cannot be understated. High school athletics is considered a unique representation of the school and, often, the community. High school sports have long been used to serve several purposes. In addition to promoting physical health and competitive spirit, one purpose of sports is to develop the overall character of the athletes who participate, including leadership. With over 8.5 million students (National Federation of High Schools [NFHS], 2023) participating annually, there exists opportunities within an ideal environment in which to develop leadership. Coaches are tasked not only with teaching the fundamentals of their particular sport but also developing character and leadership. While the benefits of positive youth development have been studied and the responsibilities of coaches regarding leadership development have been established, a gap in the literature exists as to how leadership development is implemented and what experiences coaches and athletes find most beneficial to athlete leadership growth. This qualitative study sought to understand what coaches and athletes believe have been the most beneficial experiences to develop character and leadership. Interviews with coaches and athletes revealed parallel narratives and common themes emerged between the coaches and athletes regarding the purpose of high school sports, the philosophy of coaches and the culture created on the sports team, how leadership was developed, and how leadership development has impacted the athletes. This study adds to the current literature on leadership development in adolescents and provides recommendations to assist coaches, administrators, and athletic governing bodies to provide better leadership development as part of the high school athletic experience.