Sports Leader Essay Example

Sports Leader Essay There are excellent leaders in sport like Mike Krzyzewski who influence their teams to strive hard towards goals. On one side they drive their teams towards performance, excellence and winning, on the other side they show empathy towards every team member. The personalities of such leaders are built on the substratum of grit, determination and integrity. However, the current events in sports expose a number of unethical practices and incidents. These are related to winning at all costs. Even though unethical behavior cannot entirely be eliminated, efficient and professional sports management can go a long way in improving the health of sports.The leadership skills of Mike Krzyzewski, the head coach of the USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team comprise of task oriented as well as people oriented skills. Specifically, Krzyzewski’s skills are more task oriented. He is the first collegiate coach to be appointed the head coach. His task-oriented skills are apparent from the three national championships Duke won in 1991, 1992 and 2002. He is personally a confident, self-controlled and disciplined person who quickly becomes a role model for the persons he mentors. He has excellent knowledge not only about the game but also about the methods that players should use to improve their own performance. He is highly determined and internally motivated and he induces the same determination and enthusiasm in the players he coaches. This has produced results. The players he has mentored have earned National Player of the Year honors eight times, claimed National Defensive Players of the Year honors eight times, and been named All-American 31 times (Brill. B, 2004).The challenge Krzyzewski faces now is that the USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team he coaches will participate in the 2007 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament if required and if the USA qualifies, the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. His challenge lies in recruiting and rel ationship process in the top basketball players (Brill. B, 2004). In addition he has to motivate and instill a disciplined approach toward the game. Krzyzewski not only has to get together the right players but he also has to build them into a team. Krzyzewski has to ensure that the inter player relationship forges a team based on mutual respect and understanding. Krzyzewski needs to make an immediate impact on the team as well as build a successful program both on the court and off the court. He has to build individualized strength, conditioning and skill development among the country’s best players.Current events in the context of ethical behavior that plagued sport include the off court behavior of basketball player, Ron Artest who attacked Detroit Piston fans and when given an opportunity to apologize on the Today Show, showed utter disdain. In major-league baseball, San Francisco Giants left-fielder Barry Bonds broke records using steroids but denied having used them. An d the unethical behavior of players and managers during the National Hockey League protest that held to ransom the businesses linked to the game only because of unworthy haggling for money. The list of events that are not ethical in sport continues. There is one trend that is to win at all costs often induces players to override ethical consideration and is main reason for the use of steroids and banned substances. The other reason for unethical behavior is arrogance that comes from the heroic position where the sport persons find themselves in. This explains to an extent the behavior of Ron Artest. In this context the â€Å"millions of dollars† that are at stake, often induce sports persons to behave in an unethical manner. Consider the example of New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez who was at close play at first base in an important play-off. He simply slapped the ball out of a fielder’s hand. This happened in 2004.The major concepts in sports management involve providing support and assistance to sport professionals. Management mainly involves promoting sports persons and facilitating their professional development. The important aspects of sport include sport marketing, developing sport leadership, fund raising and mediating in case of conflicts. One of the important aspects of sport that is addressed by sport management is related to law and policy. Sport management also addresses the financial aspects of sports (Smith A   Stewart. B, 1999). The finances of players including their expenses and earnings are a part of the financial side of sport. Included in sport management are activities related to venue management and even sport tourism.The elements that are necessary for sport management are leadership qualities, acumen with finance, use of quantitative skills and negotiating ability. The need for these elements emerges because sport management requires knowledge of consumer behavior, sponsorship, advertising and licensing. In addition, the sport managers must have facility with media, communications and public relations. Where there are large scale sporting events there is a need to manage the organizational image and identity. Where there is a need for traveling to prestigious international events like the Olympics, the motives of every person accompanying the team needs to be evaluated. Sports management also involves controversial matters like the influence of perceived diversity and the unauthorized use of sport organization intellectual property during election campaigns (Smith A   Stewart. B, 1999).To sum, sports management as a profession needs training as all professions do. In addition, leadership qualities of the type Krzyzewski has will go a long way in promoting sportsmen and sportsmanship.References:Brill. B, (2004) 100 Years of Duke Basketball: A Legacy of Achievement, Sports Publishing LLC.Smith A   Stewart. B,   (1999) Sports Management: A Guide to Professional Practice, Allen Unwin.