AQA · A-Level · Physical Education
Course version: 7582 · Version from Sept 2016
Leadership: Prescribed and emergent leaders.
Leaders can be prescribed or emergent.
Checked against the AQA 7582 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 5 of 7
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Leaders can be prescribed or emergent. A prescribed leader is appointed formally from outside the group, for example a new head coach recruited by a club's board, and gains authority from the appointment itself. An emergent leader rises from within the group because team-mates recognise their ability, confidence or communication, for example a player who organises others during a match and is later made captain. Prescribed leaders may need time to earn trust, while emergent leaders already have peer respect but may lack formal authority. The two routes can combine: a club may appoint a coach who then relies on emergent leaders among the players to drive standards.
What earns the marks
- Prescribed leader: appointed formally from outside the group, with authority derived from the appointment.
- Emergent leader: emerges from within the group because members recognise qualities such as ability, confidence or communication.
- Prescribed leaders may need to earn the group's trust, whereas emergent leaders already hold peer respect.
- Emergent leaders may lack formal authority even though the group follows them.
- The two routes can operate together, with appointed leaders working alongside leaders who emerge from the team.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Thinking prescribed means chosen by the team.
Put it right: Prescribed leaders are appointed from outside the group by an authority.
Assuming emergent leaders are always officially appointed.
Put it right: They arise from within the group through peer recognition.
Believing emergent leaders automatically hold formal authority.
Put it right: Their influence may be informal until they are appointed.
Treating the categories as mutually exclusive in practice.
Put it right: Appointed and emergent leaders can operate together in the same team.
Exam tips
- State clearly whether the leader came from outside the group or emerged from within it.
- Support the classification with the source of authority, such as formal appointment or peer respect.
- If a scenario shows both routes, identify each leader separately rather than forcing one label on the whole group.
Try the lesson
The start of the Leadership: Prescribed and emergent leaders. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
A netball team begins the season with a captain who was chosen by the coach before the first match. What type of leader is this captain?
Listen
Leaders can be prescribed or emergent. A prescribed leader is appointed formally from outside the group, for example a new head coach recruited by a club's board, and gains authority from the appointment itself. An emergent leader rises from within the group because team-mates recognise their ability, confidence or communication, for example a player who organises others during a match and is later made captain. Prescribed leaders may need time to earn trust, while emergent leaders already have peer respect but may lack formal authority. The two routes can combine: a club may appoint a coach who then relies on emergent leaders among the players to drive standards. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Prescribed leader: appointed formally from outside the group, with authority derived from the appointment. Emergent leader: emerges from within the group because members recognise qualities such as ability, confidence or communication. Prescribed leaders may need to earn the group's trust, whereas emergent leaders already hold peer respect. Emergent leaders may lack formal authority even though the group follows them. Exam tip: State clearly whether the leader came from outside the group or emerged from within it.
See it
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Prescribed leader
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Emergent leader
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Trust, respect and influence
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Combined leadership structures in teams
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Prescribed leader
- A leader appointed formally from outside the group, with authority derived from the appointment.
- Emergent leader
- A leader who emerges from within the group because members recognise qualities such as ability, confidence or communication.
- Trust, respect and influence
- Prescribed leaders may need to earn the group's trust, whereas emergent leaders already hold peer respect but may lack formal authority.
- Combined leadership structures in teams
- The two routes can operate together, with appointed leaders working alongside leaders who emerge from the team.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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