AQA · A-Level · Physical Education
Course version: 7582 · Version from Sept 2016
Leadership: Leadership styles for different sporting situations.
Leadership style is the way a leader makes decisions and directs a group, and the best style depends on the sporting situation.
Checked against the AQA 7582 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 4 of 7
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Leadership style is the way a leader makes decisions and directs a group, and the best style depends on the sporting situation. An autocratic leader keeps decisions and control, which suits quick, safety-critical or highly structured moments such as a captain calling a set play in the final seconds. A democratic leader consults the team, which suits longer preparation where commitment and shared problem-solving matter, for example agreeing a training focus before a season. A laissez-faire leader gives the group freedom, which suits experienced, self-motivated performers such as elite athletes managing their own warm-up. The situation, the performers' experience and the task demands all shape the choice, so a leader may switch styles as circumstances change.
What earns the marks
- Autocratic leadership: the leader retains decision-making authority and directs performers, which suits fast, high-pressure or safety-critical situations.
- Democratic leadership: the leader consults group members before deciding, which builds commitment and suits situations allowing time for discussion.
- Laissez-faire leadership: the leader gives performers freedom to make their own decisions, which suits experienced and self-motivated groups.
- Style should be matched to the situation, including task demands, time available and the experience of the performers.
- A leader may adapt or change style as the sporting situation changes rather than using one style permanently.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Assuming one style is always best.
Put it right: The correct understanding is that suitability depends on the situation, task and performers.
Confusing democratic with laissez-faire.
Put it right: Democratic involves the leader consulting before deciding, whereas laissez-faire hands decision-making to the group.
Believing autocratic leadership is always negative.
Put it right: It can be effective when quick, clear decisions are needed.
Treating style as fixed for a whole match or season.
Put it right: Leaders can switch style as the situation changes.
Exam tips
- Link each style to a specific sporting situation rather than describing it in isolation.
- Use the stem's situation to justify why one style fits better than the alternatives.
- Check whether the question asks for the most suitable style, since more than one style can be defensible in general terms.
Try the lesson
The start of the Leadership: Leadership styles for different sporting situations. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
In a PE lesson, a teacher tells the class exactly which warm-up exercise to perform, how many repetitions to complete and when to move to the next station. Which leadership style is the teacher using?
Listen
Leadership style is the way a leader makes decisions and directs a group, and the best style depends on the sporting situation. An autocratic leader keeps decisions and control, which suits quick, safety-critical or highly structured moments such as a captain calling a set play in the final seconds. A democratic leader consults the team, which suits longer preparation where commitment and shared problem-solving matter, for example agreeing a training focus before a season. A laissez-faire leader gives the group freedom, which suits experienced, self-motivated performers such as elite athletes managing their own warm-up. The situation, the performers' experience and the task demands all shape the choice, so a leader may switch styles as circumstances change. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Autocratic leadership: the leader retains decision-making authority and directs performers, which suits fast, high-pressure or safety-critical situations. Democratic leadership: the leader consults group members before deciding, which builds commitment and suits situations allowing time for discussion. Laissez-faire leadership: the leader gives performers freedom to make their own decisions, which suits experienced and self-motivated groups. Style should be matched to the situation, including task demands, time available and the experience of the performers. Exam tip: Link each style to a specific sporting situation rather than describing it in isolation.
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