ABSTRACT
On-field leadership means different things to different people. In cricket the formal leadership position of captain brings with it play-by-play tactical decision-making responsibilities. Playing sport from a young age acts as a nursery for the development of leadership skills. The development of effective on-field leaders in sport is the product of a series of interactions between the coach, the athlete, and the sports environment requiring continuous planning and evaluation. The unique circumstances within which the playing of sport is conducted means it is commonplace to have consistent access to development environments to hone leadership skills, e.g. weekly practice sessions and/or pre-season competitions. To explore what effective off-field leadership in sport actually looks like first requires a degree of perspective. The decisions made by sport administrators can affect a generation of sporting dreams. The sporting world provides a plethora of narratives on leadership.
